Codemasters has officially announced that no further expansions will be released for the 2023 installment of EA Sports WRC, marking the end of their development journey with the game. The UK-based racing studio has also revealed that they are "pausing development plans on future rally titles." This news was shared through an announcement on EA.com.
The studio reflected on their journey, stating, “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, indicating that the “WRC gaming franchise is going in an ambitious new direction with more news coming in the near future.”The decision by EA to halt the development of Codemasters' rally games will be disappointing for many motorsports enthusiasts, especially following EA's acquisition of the renowned British racing studio in 2020. This announcement comes amidst reports of significant layoffs at EA, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment.
Codemasters has been a leader in the rally gaming genre for nearly three decades, starting with the groundbreaking Colin McRae Rally in 1998. This series evolved significantly over the years, particularly after the passing of Colin McRae in 2007, when the series was renamed Dirt. Dirt 2 in 2009 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL territories) was a pivotal moment for the franchise, which later shifted towards a more hardcore simulation with Dirt Rally in 2015.
The latest title, EA Sports WRC of 2023, was the first Codemasters rally game to feature an official WRC license since Colin McRae Rally 3 in 2002. According to IGN’s review, EA Sports WRC combined the exceptional driving feel of Dirt Rally 2.0 from 2019 with 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.” Efforts were made through updates to address these issues, particularly screen tearing.
