Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development

Codemasters has officially announced that no further expansions will be developed for the 2023 release of EA Sports WRC, marking the end of their journey with the game. Additionally, the studio has decided to "pause development plans on future rally titles." This announcement was made via EA.com, signaling a significant shift for the veteran UK racing studio.

The studio's statement reflects on their long-standing relationship with off-road racing, tracing back through iconic titles like Colin McRae Rally and Dirt. "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," the statement reads. It emphasizes their commitment to rally enthusiasts, their collaboration with racing icons, and their passion for the sport.

The World Rally Championship has also acknowledged this development on social media, hinting at an "ambitious new direction" for the WRC gaming franchise, with more details to be shared soon.

This news is particularly hard for motorsports fans to digest, especially following EA's acquisition of Codemasters in 2020. The decision comes amidst reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including around 100 at Respawn Entertainment, adding to the challenging environment within the company.

Codemasters has been a leader in rally video games since 1998's Colin McRae Rally, which launched a series of successful titles. After Colin McRae's tragic death in 2007, the series evolved into Dirt. Notable entries include 2009's Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions), which transitioned the series, and 2015's Dirt Rally, which returned to a hardcore simulation style.

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, it combined the class-leading feel of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0 with an officially licensed World Rally Championship experience. However, it struggled with technical issues like screen tearing, which subsequent updates aimed to address.