Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development

Codemasters has officially announced that no new expansions will be released for EA Sports WRC in 2023, signaling that the team has "reached the end of the road" with the game. In a further blow to rally game enthusiasts, the studio has also confirmed a "pause" on development plans for future rally titles.

The UK-based racing studio made this announcement through EA.com, reflecting on their journey with off-road racing. "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. "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 an "ambitious new direction" for the WRC gaming franchise with more details to follow soon.

This decision by EA to halt Codemasters' rally game development is likely to be disheartening for motorsport fans, especially in light of EA's acquisition of the storied British racing studio in 2020. This news follows recent reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including around 100 at Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a pioneer in rally video games for nearly three decades, starting with the iconic Colin McRae Rally in 1998. This series evolved significantly over the years, transitioning from Colin McRae Rally to Dirt following the tragic death of Colin McRae in 2007. The 2009 release, Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions), marked a pivotal moment for the series, which later shifted to a hardcore simulation 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, EA Sports WRC captured the essence of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0 and integrated it into an officially licensed World Rally Championship experience. However, despite its potential, the game was plagued by technical issues, described as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one." Subsequent updates aimed to address these issues, particularly screen tearing.