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, signaling what they term as "the end of the road" for the game. This news is coupled with a pause on the development of future rally titles, a decision that marks a significant shift for the veteran UK racing studio. The announcement was made public through EA.com, underlining the end of a significant chapter in Codemasters' history with rally racing games.

In their statement, Codemasters reflected on their journey with off-road racing, which has spanned decades and includes iconic titles such as Colin McRae Rally and the Dirt series. They emphasized their dedication to rally enthusiasts, their collaboration with racing legends, and their passion for rallying. "Our WRC partnership was a culmination of sorts for our Codemasters journey with off-road racing," the statement reads, highlighting the studio's commitment to delivering thrilling rally experiences.

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

This development comes as a disappointment to motorsports fans, especially following EA's acquisition of Codemasters in 2020. The news is also set against the backdrop of recent layoffs at EA, including over 300 employees across the company, with approximately 100 from Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a pivotal force in rally gaming for nearly three decades, starting with the release of Colin McRae Rally in 1998. This game not only kickstarted a series of successful and critically acclaimed titles but also evolved significantly over the years. After the tragic loss of Colin McRae in 2007, the series transitioned from bearing his name to becoming known as Dirt. The evolution continued with Dirt 2 in 2009, which was a pivotal moment for the series, and later with the hardcore simulation focus of Dirt Rally in 2015.

The 2023 release of EA Sports WRC was the first Codemasters rally game since 2002’s Colin McRae Rally 3 to feature an official WRC license. According to IGN's review, EA Sports WRC successfully captured the essence of 2019’s Dirt Rally 2.0 within an officially licensed World Rally Championship framework. However, the game struggled with technical issues, such as screen tearing, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite subsequent updates aimed at resolving these problems, the game was described as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one."