Codemasters has officially announced that they will not be releasing any further expansions for EA Sports WRC in 2023, marking the end of their journey with the game. In a disheartening addition to this news, the studio has also confirmed a pause on the development of future rally titles.
The announcement was published on EA.com, where Codemasters reflected on their long-standing relationship with off-road racing. The studio highlighted their decades-long journey, 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,” the statement reads. “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 itself has acknowledged the news on social media, hinting at a new direction for the WRC gaming franchise with more details to be shared soon.
For motorsports fans, EA’s acquisition of Codemasters in 2020 now adds a layer of disappointment with the cessation of Codemasters' rally games. This news comes amidst reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment.
Codemasters has been a pioneer in the rally gaming genre for nearly three decades, starting with the iconic Colin McRae Rally in 1998. The series evolved significantly, retiring McRae's name after his tragic passing in 2007 and continuing as the Dirt series. Dirt 2 in 2009 (released as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions) marked a pivotal transition, and the series was reimagined as a hardcore simulation with Dirt Rally in 2015.
The 2023 release, EA Sports WRC, was the first Codemasters rally game to feature an official WRC license since Colin McRae Rally 3 in 2002. IGN's review praised EA Sports WRC for building upon the acclaimed mechanics of Dirt Rally 2.0 from 2019, integrating them into 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." Subsequent updates were aimed at resolving these issues, particularly screen tearing.
