Codemasters ‘Pausing’ Development Plans on Future Rally Games

Codemasters has officially announced that there will be no further expansions for the 2023 release of EA Sports WRC, signaling the end of their journey with the game. The UK-based racing studio has also revealed that they are "pausing development plans on future rally titles." This news was shared through an announcement 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 their dedication to rally enthusiasts, their efforts to innovate, and their collaborations with racing legends. "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," the studio stated. "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 responded to this news on social media, hinting at a new direction for the WRC gaming franchise with more details to be announced soon. This comes as a significant disappointment for motorsport fans, especially following 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, a leader in rally gaming for nearly three decades since the release of Colin McRae Rally in 1998, has been instrumental in shaping the genre. After Colin McRae's tragic death in 2007, the series was rebranded as Dirt. The 2009 release of Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions) was a pivotal moment, leading to the 2015 hardcore simulation, Dirt Rally.

The 2023 EA Sports WRC marked Codemasters' return to an officially licensed WRC game since 2002's Colin McRae Rally 3. IGN's review praised the game for capturing the essence of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0 within an officially licensed WRC framework. However, it criticized the game for technical issues like screen tearing, describing it as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one." Subsequent updates were aimed at addressing these technical challenges.