Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development

Codemasters has announced that no further expansions will be developed for 2023’s EA Sports WRC, marking the end of their journey with the game. Additionally, the studio has decided to "pause development plans on future rally titles," signaling a significant shift in their focus. This news was published on EA.com by the veteran UK racing studio.

Reflecting on their journey, Codemasters stated, “Our WRC partnership was a culmination of sorts for our Codemasters journey with off-road racing, spanning decades through titles like Colin McRae Rally, and Dirt. 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 has acknowledged this development on social media, hinting at an "ambitious new direction" for the WRC gaming franchise, with more details to be revealed soon.

This decision by EA to halt Codemasters' rally game development will be disappointing for motorsports fans, especially following EA’s acquisition of the renowned British racing studio in 2020. The news follows reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including around 100 at Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a leader in rally video games for nearly three decades, beginning with the iconic 1998 release, Colin McRae Rally. This pioneering rally simulation launched a series of highly respected and successful racing games. After the tragic passing of Colin McRae in 2007, the series transitioned away from his name and evolved into Dirt. The 2009 release of Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions) was a pivotal moment for the series, which was later reinvented as a hardcore simulation with 2015’s Dirt Rally.

The 2023 release, EA Sports WRC, was the first Codemasters rally game to feature an official WRC license since 2002’s Colin McRae Rally 3. According to IGN’s review, EA Sports WRC captured the exceptional driving feel of 2019’s Dirt Rally 2.0 and integrated it into an officially licensed World Rally Championship experience. However, technical issues, such as screen tearing, marred its potential, leaving it described as a “great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one.” Subsequent patches aimed to address these technical shortcomings.