Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development

Codemasters has officially announced that no new expansions will be developed for 2023's EA Sports WRC, signaling the end of their work on the game. In a disappointing turn of events, the studio has also confirmed a "pause" on future rally game projects. This news was published on EA.com by the veteran UK racing studio.

The statement from Codemasters reflects on their journey, stating, “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 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 is a tough blow for motorsport enthusiasts, especially in light of EA's acquisition of the esteemed British racing studio in 2020. The announcement follows reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including about 100 at Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a leader in rally gaming for nearly three decades, starting with the iconic 1998 release, Colin McRae Rally. This pioneering title set the stage for a series of successful and critically acclaimed racing games. After the passing of Colin McRae in 2007, the series evolved, dropping McRae’s name and continuing as Dirt. The 2009 release, Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL territories), marked a significant transition, which was later refined into a hardcore simulation with 2015's Dirt Rally.

EA Sports WRC, released in 2023, 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 aimed to capture the essence of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0 within an officially licensed World Rally Championship setting. However, despite its potential, the game struggled with technical issues, described as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one." Subsequent updates were focused on addressing these problems, particularly screen tearing.