Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development

Codemasters has announced that no additional expansions will be developed for 2023's EA Sports WRC, signaling the end of their journey with the game. Moreover, the studio has decided to "pause development plans on future rally titles." This news was officially shared on EA.com, marking a significant shift for the veteran UK racing studio.

In their statement, Codemasters reflects on their long-standing commitment to off-road racing, which began with titles like Colin McRae Rally and evolved through the Dirt series. They express pride in having provided a platform for rally enthusiasts and in their efforts to push the limits of rally gaming. The studio credits their success to the talented team of developers and the collaboration with rally icons, which allowed them to share their passion for rallying with the world.

The World Rally Championship has responded to the announcement on social media, hinting that the WRC gaming franchise is set to take an "ambitious new direction" with further details to be announced soon.

This decision by EA to halt Codemasters' rally game development is a tough blow for motorsports fans, especially following EA's acquisition of the renowned British racing studio in 2020. The announcement comes amidst reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment, adding to the challenging times for the company.

Codemasters has been a leader in rally gaming since 1998, starting with the iconic Colin McRae Rally. The series evolved significantly over the years, transitioning from Colin McRae Rally to Dirt after the passing of Colin McRae in 2007. Key milestones include 2009's Dirt 2, which was rebranded as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions, and the 2015 hardcore simulation, 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 built upon the exceptional driving experience of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0, integrating it into an officially licensed World Rally Championship game. However, the game struggled with technical issues, such as screen tearing, which detracted from its potential. Subsequent updates aimed to address these problems, striving to refine the game into the high-quality racing experience it promised to be.