Codemasters Ends Rally Game Production

Codemasters has officially announced the conclusion of further development for 2023's EA Sports WRC, stating the team has "reached the end of the road" on the project. More concerning for rally fans, the studio also confirmed plans to "pause development of future rally titles."

The veteran UK racing studio shared this announcement through EA.com.

"Our WRC partnership represented the culmination of Codemasters' decades-long journey in off-road racing, spanning titles from Colin McRae Rally to the Dirt series," the statement explained. "We've created a home for rally enthusiasts, constantly pushing boundaries to capture the adrenaline of driving at the limit. This journey brought together talented developers, legendary figures from the sport, and allowed us to share our passion for rallying."

The World Rally Championship organization responded to the news on social media with a brief statement mentioning the "WRC gaming franchise is heading in an ambitious new direction," with additional details to follow.

EA's decision to halt Codemasters' rally development will disappoint motorsport fans, particularly following EA's high-profile acquisition of the iconic British studio in 2020.

This development follows recent reports of significant layoffs at EA, affecting over 300 employees including about 100 at Respawn Entertainment.

For nearly thirty years, Codemasters has defined rally gaming - beginning with 1998's groundbreaking Colin McRae Rally. The series evolved through multiple iterations before transitioning to the Dirt franchise after McRae's tragic death in 2007. Dirt Rally (2015) notably shifted the series toward hardcore simulation, while 2023's EA Sports WRC marked Codemasters' return to official WRC licensing since 2002's Colin McRae Rally 3.

IGN's review noted EA Sports WRC successfully adapted the acclaimed physics from Dirt Rally 2.0 into an officially licensed WRC package, though technical issues initially held it back from reaching its full potential. Subsequent updates addressed some of these performance concerns.