Codemasters ‘Pausing’ Development Plans on Future Rally Games

Codemasters has announced that it will not be releasing any further expansions for the 2023 title, EA Sports WRC, marking the end of their journey with the game. The studio has also confirmed a "pause" on future rally game development. This news was published on EA.com by the veteran UK racing studio.

In their statement, Codemasters reflected on their long history with off-road racing, mentioning iconic titles like Colin McRae Rally and Dirt. They emphasized their commitment to the rally community, striving to push the limits and capture the thrill of rally racing. The studio highlighted their collaboration with racing legends and their passion for the sport.

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

This decision by EA to halt Codemasters' rally game development comes after EA's acquisition of the British racing studio in 2020, and amidst reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment. This news is likely to be disappointing for fans of motorsport gaming.

Codemasters has been a leader in rally gaming for nearly three decades, starting with the groundbreaking Colin McRae Rally in 1998. This game launched a series of acclaimed racing titles. After the tragic passing of Colin McRae in 2007, the series evolved, rebranding as Dirt. Dirt 2, released in 2009 (and known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions), was a pivotal moment for the franchise, which later shifted to a more simulation-focused approach with 2015's Dirt Rally.

The 2023 release, 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 built on the exceptional driving experience of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0, integrating it into an officially licensed World Rally Championship setting. However, the game struggled with technical issues such as screen tearing, which updates attempted to address. Despite these challenges, the game was described as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one."