Codemasters has officially announced that they will not be releasing any further expansions for 2023's EA Sports WRC, marking what they describe as "the end of the road" for the game's development. Adding to the disappointment, the studio has also confirmed a pause on future rally game projects.
The announcement, published on EA.com, reflects on Codemasters' long-standing journey in off-road racing. "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. It highlights the studio's commitment to rally enthusiasts, their efforts to push the boundaries of the genre, and their collaboration with racing legends to deliver an authentic rallying experience.
The World Rally Championship has acknowledged this news on social media, hinting at an "ambitious new direction" for the WRC gaming franchise, with more details to be shared soon.
For motorsports fans, EA's decision to halt Codemasters' rally game development, following EA's acquisition of the British studio in 2020, is a tough blow. This news coincides with reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including around 100 at Respawn Entertainment, adding to the challenges faced by the gaming industry.
Codemasters has been a pioneer in rally gaming since the release of 1998's Colin McRae Rally, which launched a series of acclaimed racing games. After Colin McRae's tragic death in 2007, the series transitioned from using his name to the Dirt brand. The series saw significant shifts, from 2009's Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL territories) to the hardcore simulation of 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. IGN's review praised EA Sports WRC for its handling, reminiscent of the class-leading feel of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0, but criticized it for technical issues like screen tearing, which subsequent updates aimed to resolve. The game was described as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one," capturing the essence of rallying but hindered by its technical shortcomings.
