Codemasters Halts Future Rally Game Development

Codemasters has announced that no further expansions will be released for 2023's EA Sports WRC, marking the end of their journey with the game. Additionally, the studio has confirmed a pause on development plans for future rally titles, signaling a significant shift in their focus. This news was officially shared through a statement on EA.com.

In their statement, Codemasters reflected on their long history with off-road racing, which began with titles like Colin McRae Rally and evolved through the Dirt series. They expressed pride in having created a home for rally enthusiasts, pushing the limits to deliver the exhilarating experience of racing on the edge. The studio highlighted their collaboration with racing legends and their passion for the sport.

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

This announcement comes as a disappointment to motorsports fans, especially following EA's acquisition of Codemasters in 2020. The news follows reports of significant layoffs at EA, including over 300 employees, with approximately 100 from Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a leading force in rally video games since 1998's Colin McRae Rally, which launched a series of critically acclaimed racing games. After Colin McRae's tragic death in 2007, the series was renamed to Dirt. Dirt 2 (released as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions) in 2009 marked a significant transition, and the series was reimagined as a hardcore simulation with 2015's Dirt Rally.

The 2023 release of EA Sports WRC 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 attempted to blend the class-leading feel of Dirt Rally 2.0 with an officially licensed WRC experience. Despite this, the game struggled with technical issues like screen tearing, which were addressed in subsequent updates.