Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development

Codemasters has officially announced that they will not be releasing any further expansions for EA Sports WRC in 2023, marking the end of their development journey on the game. In a surprising turn of events, the studio has also decided to "pause development plans on future rally titles."

The announcement was made via EA.com, where Codemasters reflected on their long-standing commitment to 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 also acknowledged the news on social media, hinting at an "ambitious new direction" for the WRC gaming franchise, with more details to be announced soon.

This decision by EA to halt Codemasters' rally game development comes as a significant disappointment to motorsports fans, especially following EA's acquisition of the renowned British racing studio in 2020. The news follows reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a pioneer in rally gaming for nearly three decades, starting with the iconic Colin McRae Rally in 1998. This series evolved significantly over the years, retiring the McRae name after his tragic death in 2007 and continuing as Dirt. The transition was marked by 2009's Dirt 2, known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions, and the series was reinvented as 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 built upon the successful foundation of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0, offering an officially licensed World Rally Championship experience. However, it was marred by technical issues, such as screen tearing, which subsequent updates aimed to resolve.