Codemasters has announced that it will not be releasing any further expansions for EA Sports WRC in 2023, marking the end of their journey with the game. In a more disheartening revelation, the studio is also "pausing development plans on future rally titles." This news was officially published on EA.com, signaling a significant shift for the veteran UK racing studio.
In their statement, Codemasters reflected on their long-standing relationship with off-road racing, which began with titles like Colin McRae Rally and evolved through the Dirt series. "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," they stated. The studio emphasized their commitment to the rally community, their efforts to push the boundaries of racing games, and their collaboration with racing icons to share their passion for rallying.
The World Rally Championship has responded to the news on social media, hinting that the "WRC gaming franchise is going in an ambitious new direction" with more details to be announced soon.
This decision will undoubtedly be a tough one for motorsports enthusiasts to accept, especially following EA's acquisition of the renowned British racing studio in 2020. The announcement comes amidst reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment, adding to the uncertainty in the gaming industry.
Codemasters has been a pioneer in rally video games for nearly three decades, starting with the iconic Colin McRae Rally in 1998. This pioneering title launched a series of acclaimed racing games. After the tragic passing of Colin McRae in 2007, the series transitioned away from his name, evolving into the Dirt series. The 2009 release, Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions), marked a significant shift for the franchise, which was later reimagined as a hardcore simulation 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 upon the acclaimed driving mechanics of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0, offering an officially licensed World Rally Championship experience. However, the game was hampered by technical issues, described as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one." Codemasters attempted to address these issues, particularly screen tearing, through subsequent updates.
