Codemasters has announced that no new expansions will be developed for 2023's EA Sports WRC, marking the end of their journey with the game. The studio has also confirmed a pause on the development of future rally titles. This news was officially shared on EA.com, signaling a significant shift for the UK-based racing studio.
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 has responded to the news on social media, hinting at an “ambitious new direction” for the WRC gaming franchise, with more details to follow soon.
This development comes as a disappointment to motorsports fans, especially in light of EA’s acquisition of Codemasters in 2020. The announcement follows reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including about 100 at Respawn Entertainment, adding to the concerns within the gaming community.
Codemasters has been a pioneer in rally gaming since 1998 with the release of Colin McRae Rally. This iconic title launched a series that evolved through various successful iterations, including the transition to the Dirt series after the passing of Colin McRae in 2007. Notably, 2009’s Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions) and 2015’s Dirt Rally marked significant milestones in the series' development.
2023’s 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 class-leading feel of 2019’s Dirt Rally 2.0 and integrated it into an officially licensed World Rally Championship experience. However, the game was plagued by technical issues, described as a “great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one.” Subsequent patches aimed to address these problems, particularly the screen tearing issues.
