Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development
Codemasters has officially announced that there will be no further expansions for EA Sports WRC in 2023, signaling the end of their journey with the game. The studio has also confirmed a pause in development plans for future rally titles. This news was shared via an announcement on EA.com.
Reflecting on their history, Codemasters stated, “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. 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 this news on social media, hinting at an "ambitious new direction" for the WRC gaming franchise with more details to follow soon.
This development will be a tough blow for motorsports fans, especially after EA's acquisition of Codemasters in 2020. The announcement coincides with reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment.
Codemasters has been a leading force in rally video games for nearly three decades, beginning with the iconic 1998 release of Colin McRae Rally. This pioneering rally simulation sparked a series of successful and highly respected racing games. After Colin McRae's tragic death in 2007, the series was renamed to Dirt. The 2009 release of Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL territories) marked a significant transition, and the series evolved into 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 retained the class-leading feel of 2019’s Dirt Rally 2.0 and incorporated it into an officially licensed World Rally Championship experience. However, technical issues such as screen tearing marred the game, giving the impression of a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one." Subsequent updates were aimed at resolving these technical problems.
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