Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development

Codemasters has officially announced that they will not be releasing any further expansions for the 2023 edition of EA Sports WRC, signaling the end of their journey with the game. In a disheartening revelation, the studio also confirmed a "pause" on the development of future rally titles. This news was shared through a statement on EA.com, where Codemasters reflected on their long history with off-road racing, starting from the iconic Colin McRae Rally to the more recent Dirt series.

"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 read. "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 itself has acknowledged the news on social media, hinting at an "ambitious new direction" for the WRC gaming franchise, with more details expected soon.

For motorsports fans, EA's decision to halt Codemasters' rally game development is a tough blow, especially following EA's acquisition of the renowned British racing studio in 2020. This announcement comes on the heels of reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a pioneer in the rally gaming genre for nearly three decades, beginning with the 1998 release of Colin McRae Rally. This game laid the foundation for a series of successful and critically acclaimed racing titles. After the tragic passing of Colin McRae in 2007, the series evolved, dropping McRae's name and transforming into Dirt. 2009's Dirt 2, also known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions, marked a significant shift, which was further refined into a hardcore simulation with 2015's Dirt Rally.

The 2023 release, EA Sports WRC, marked the first time since 2002's Colin McRae Rally 3 that Codemasters had an official WRC license. According to IGN's review, EA Sports WRC attempted to blend the superior driving experience of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0 with the official World Rally Championship license. However, the game struggled with technical issues like screen tearing, which subsequent updates aimed to address. Despite these challenges, the game was described as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one."