Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development

Codemasters has officially announced that there will be no further expansions for the 2023 release of EA Sports WRC, signaling that the team has "reached the end of the road" with the game. Additionally, the studio has confirmed a pause on the development of future rally titles. This announcement was made via EA.com.

The studio's statement reflects on their journey with off-road racing, highlighting their long history from titles like Colin McRae Rally to Dirt. "Our WRC partnership was a culmination of sorts for our Codemasters journey with off-road racing, spanning decades... We’ve provided a home for every rally enthusiast, striving tirelessly to push the boundaries and deliver the exhilarating thrill of driving on the ragged edge. We’ve brought together incredibly talented racing developers, worked with some of the sport’s icons, and had the opportunity to share our love of rallying."

The World Rally Championship acknowledged the news on social media, hinting at an "ambitious new direction" for the WRC gaming franchise with more details to follow soon.

This decision by EA to halt Codemasters' rally game development will be a tough blow for motorsports enthusiasts, especially following EA's acquisition of the renowned British racing studio in 2020. The announcement comes amidst reports of significant layoffs at EA, including around 300 employees, with approximately 100 from Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a pioneer in rally video games since the release of the iconic Colin McRae Rally in 1998. The series evolved significantly over the years, rebranding as Dirt after the tragic death of Colin McRae in 2007. Key milestones include Dirt 2 in 2009, which was known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in certain regions, and the more simulation-focused Dirt Rally in 2015.

EA Sports WRC, released in 2023, marked the first time since 2002's Colin McRae Rally 3 that Codemasters produced an officially licensed WRC game. IGN's review praised the game for capturing the essence of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0 within an officially licensed WRC framework, though it criticized the game for technical issues like screen tearing, describing it as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one." Subsequent patches aimed to address these technical shortcomings.