Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development

Codemasters has announced that there will be no further expansions for EA Sports WRC in 2023, signaling the end of their development journey with the game. In a surprising addition to this news, the studio has also decided to "pause development plans on future rally titles." This announcement was published on EA.com, marking a significant shift for the UK-based 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 the news on social media, hinting at a new direction for the WRC gaming franchise with more details to be revealed soon.

This development is a tough blow for motorsports fans, especially in light of EA’s acquisition of Codemasters in 2020. The decision comes amidst reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including roughly 100 at Respawn Entertainment, adding to the uncertainty surrounding EA’s gaming portfolio.

Codemasters has been a trailblazer in rally gaming for nearly three decades, starting with the iconic Colin McRae Rally in 1998. This pioneering rally simulation launched a series of acclaimed racing games. After the tragic loss of Colin McRae in 2007, the series rebranded to Dirt. Dirt 2 in 2009 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions) marked a pivotal shift, which evolved into a hardcore simulation with Dirt Rally in 2015.

EA Sports WRC in 2023 was the first Codemasters rally game to feature an official WRC license since Colin McRae Rally 3 in 2002. According to IGN’s review, EA Sports WRC captured the essence of Dirt Rally 2.0 from 2019 and integrated it into an officially licensed World Rally Championship experience. However, the game struggled with technical issues, described as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one." Subsequent updates aimed to address these problems, particularly screen tearing.