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, signaling that the team has "reached the end of the road" with the game. This announcement also includes the disheartening news that Codemasters is "pausing development plans on future rally titles." The veteran UK racing studio shared this statement through EA.com.

In their statement, the studio reflected on their journey with the WRC partnership, describing it as a culmination of their long-standing dedication to off-road racing, which began with 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 statement read.

The World Rally Championship has acknowledged this news on social media, hinting at a new direction for the WRC gaming franchise with more details to follow soon.

The decision by EA to halt Codemasters' rally game development will undoubtedly be a tough blow for motorsports fans, especially considering EA’s acquisition of the storied British racing studio in 2020. This announcement follows reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a pioneer in rally video games for nearly three decades, starting with the iconic 1998 release of Colin McRae Rally. This groundbreaking rally simulation launched a series of successful and highly respected racing games. After the tragic passing of Colin McRae in 2007, the series retired his name and evolved into Dirt. The 2009 release of Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL territories) marked a significant transition for the franchise, which saw further reinvention as a hardcore simulation with 2015's Dirt Rally.

EA Sports WRC, released in 2023, marked the first Codemasters rally game with an official WRC license since 2002's Colin McRae Rally 3. According to IGN's review, EA Sports WRC builds upon the class-leading feel of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0, integrating it into an officially licensed World Rally Championship experience. However, the game's launch was marred by technical issues, described as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one." Subsequent updates aimed to address these problems, particularly the screen tearing issues.