Criterion, the UK-based developer behind Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit and the Burnout series, has posted a series of positions on its Criterion Blog, including vacancies for an AI Programmer, Senior Physics Programmer and Lead Software Engineer to join the development team in Guildford.

"Our current ambition requires an innovative programmer to deliver killer entertainment experiences with believable, open world AI Racing Drivers" reads the AI Programmer overview, while the listing for a Lead Software Engineer is looking for someone to "help create a new extension to the existing Criterion team focusing on developing on new platforms."

This could be Criterion hiring for a new project or indeed projects, but what that could be is uncertain. It's possible that the developer could be preparing to start work on another instalment of Burnout or the studio could be planning an open-world Need for Speed, capitalising on the success of Hot Pursuit.

The "new platforms" aspect mentioned in the job listings is another intriguing part of these listings too. Could Criterion be looking at starting development on Burnout or Need for Speed on the next generation of consoles, rumoured to be surfacing withing the next couple of years? It's a long shot, but entirely possible.

Criterion is also currently preparing to release Burnout CRASH! on the PlayStation Network, offering a top-down take on the popular crash junctions from the Burnout series. Burnout CRASH! is out later this month.

[Via Videogamer]