Codemasters has officially announced that no further expansions will be developed for 2023's EA Sports WRC, signaling the end of their journey with the game. In a poignant statement, the studio also revealed they are "pausing development plans on future rally titles." This news was shared through an announcement on EA.com.
Reflecting on their legacy, Codemasters stated, “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. 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 responded to this news on social media, hinting at an "ambitious new direction" for the WRC gaming franchise, with more details to follow soon.
This decision by EA to halt Codemasters' rally game development is a tough blow for motorsports enthusiasts, especially after EA's acquisition of the renowned British racing studio in 2020. The announcement follows recent reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment.
Codemasters has been a trailblazer in the rally gaming genre for nearly three decades, starting with the iconic 1998 release, Colin McRae Rally. This pioneering rally simulation set the stage for a series of successful and critically acclaimed racing games. After the tragic passing of Colin McRae in 2007, the series was renamed to Dirt, evolving further. 2009's Dirt 2, known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL territories, marked a significant transition, and the series was reimagined as a hardcore simulation with 2015's Dirt Rally.
2023's EA Sports WRC marked the first time since 2002's Colin McRae Rally 3 that Codemasters produced a rally game with an official WRC license. According to IGN's review, EA Sports WRC built 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 struggled with 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 screen tearing.
