Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development

Codemasters has officially announced that no further expansions will be developed for 2023's EA Sports WRC, marking the end of their journey with the game. In a surprising twist, the studio has also decided to "pause development plans on future rally titles." This news was shared through an announcement on EA.com.

Reflecting on their legacy, 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 responded to the news on social media, hinting that the "WRC gaming franchise is going in an ambitious new direction with more news coming in the near future."

This development is a tough blow for motorsports fans, especially following EA's acquisition of the storied British racing studio in 2020. The announcement comes amidst reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including roughly 100 at Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a pioneer in rally video games for nearly three decades, starting with the iconic 1998 release, Colin McRae Rally. This groundbreaking rally simulation launched a series of successful and highly respected racing games. After the tragic 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 regions), marked a significant transition for the series, which was later reimagined as a hardcore simulation with 2015's Dirt Rally.

2023's 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 class-leading feel of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0, integrating 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 the screen tearing issues.