EA Games Europe boss says Need for Speed: Shift better than Forza 3, too.

Blur screenshot

EA has thrown down the gauntlet to rival mega publisher Activision, describing Bizarre’s upcoming racer Blur as “completely underwhelming”.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com at E3, Patrick Soderlund, who as senior vice president at EA Games Europe oversees all European game development, said he couldn’t understand “what’s up” with the game.

He also had some choice words for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 exclusive Forza 3, saying it was “clear” that Need for Speed: Shift was better than Turn 10’s upcoming racer.

EA has decided to take the Need for Speed franchise into simulation territory with Shift, developed by UK studio Slightly Mad, pitting it directly with Forza 3. Both games are due out this autumn.

Also due out later this year is Activision’s Blur. Developer Bizarre, of Project Gotham Racing fame, has layered Mario Kart-style power-ups onto its hardcore racing engine and incorporated story elements into the single-player experience.

When asked what he thought of the racing games on show at E3, Soderlund replied: “Let me tell you this. I think Split/Second looks great. I’m going to have a good time playing that. Blur to me is completely underwhelming. I don’t understand what’s up with that game to be honest. That’s an official statement.

“Forza, I’m very confident we have a better game than them to be honest. Talking to the press, looking at the nominations, that’s clear. So, I’m glad that they’re confident but I’m as confident as they are.”

Soderlund’s words are sure to fuel the racing game fire that’s raged between rival publishers this week. Earlier we brought you comments from Forza franchise director Dan Greenawalt, who told us at E3 that Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi “hasn’t done anything for me for years”.

2009 looks like it’s going to be a very interesting year for racing games indeed.

What do you think about Soderlund’s comments on Blur and Forza 3? Let us know in the comments section below.