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. The UK-based racing studio, now under EA's umbrella, has also put a pause on developing future rally titles. This news was shared through an announcement on EA.com.

The studio reflected on their long history with off-road racing, which began with titles like Colin McRae Rally and continued through the Dirt series. They emphasized their commitment to rally enthusiasts, striving to push the limits and capture the thrill of rallying. Codemasters expressed gratitude for collaborating with racing legends and sharing their passion for the sport.

The World Rally Championship has responded to this announcement on social media, hinting at a new direction for the WRC gaming franchise with more details to follow soon.

This decision by EA to halt Codemasters' rally game development will be disappointing for motorsports fans, especially following EA's acquisition of the studio in 2020. The announcement comes amidst reports of significant layoffs at EA, affecting over 300 employees, including around 100 at Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a pioneer in rally gaming since 1998 with the release of Colin McRae Rally. The series evolved over the years, notably after Colin McRae's passing in 2007, when it was rebranded as Dirt. The transition was marked by 2009's Dirt 2, and the series returned to its simulation roots 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, the game successfully built upon the foundation of Dirt Rally 2.0 from 2019, integrating it into an officially licensed WRC experience. However, it struggled with technical issues like screen tearing, which were addressed in subsequent updates.