Codemasters has announced that they will not be releasing any more expansions for 2023's EA Sports WRC, marking the end of their journey with the game. In a disheartening update, the studio also confirmed a pause on the development of future rally titles. This news was officially shared via EA.com.
The studio reflected on their journey with off-road racing, highlighting their commitment to the genre that 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," the statement read. They emphasized their dedication to rally enthusiasts and their efforts to push the boundaries of the racing experience, collaborating with racing icons and sharing their passion for rallying.
The World Rally Championship has responded to the announcement on social media, hinting at a new direction for the WRC gaming franchise with more details to be revealed soon.
This development is a significant blow to motorsports fans, especially following EA's acquisition of Codemasters in 2020. The news comes amidst reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment.
Codemasters has been a leader in rally gaming for nearly three decades, starting with the iconic Colin McRae Rally in 1998. After Colin McRae's tragic passing in 2007, the series evolved, dropping McRae's name and continuing as Dirt. The 2009 release of Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions) marked a pivotal moment, leading to the series' reinvention as a hardcore simulation with 2015's Dirt Rally.
The 2023 release of EA Sports WRC was significant as it was the first Codemasters rally game to feature an official WRC license since 2002's Colin McRae Rally 3. IGN's review praised the game for capturing the essence of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0 within an officially licensed WRC framework, though it criticized ongoing technical issues like screen tearing, which subsequent updates aimed to address.
