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, marking the end of their journey with the game. The studio has also confirmed a pause in the development of future rally titles. This news was shared through an announcement on EA.com.

The statement from Codemasters reflects on their long history with off-road racing, mentioning iconic titles like Colin McRae Rally and Dirt. They expressed pride in having catered to rally enthusiasts, pushing the limits to capture the essence of high-speed rally driving. The team highlighted their collaboration with racing legends and their passion for the sport.

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

This decision by EA to halt Codemasters' rally game development is likely to disappoint motorsport fans, especially following EA's acquisition of the renowned British studio in 2020. The news comes amidst reports of significant layoffs at EA, affecting over 300 employees, including about 100 from Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a leader in rally gaming since 1998 with the release of Colin McRae Rally. This series evolved over time, transitioning from Colin McRae Rally to Dirt after the tragic passing of Colin McRae in 2007. The series saw significant changes with Dirt 2 in 2009, which was known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in certain regions, and later shifted towards a more hardcore simulation with Dirt Rally in 2015.

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, the game successfully incorporated the acclaimed handling from Dirt Rally 2.0 into an authentic WRC experience. However, it struggled with technical issues like screen tearing, which subsequent updates aimed to resolve.