Codemasters has officially announced that no further expansions will be released for 2023's EA Sports WRC, signaling the end of their development journey with the game. The studio has also decided to "pause development plans on future rally titles," marking a significant shift in their focus. This news was shared via an announcement on EA.com.
Reflecting on their legacy, Codemasters stated, "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 acknowledged the news on social media, hinting at an "ambitious new direction" for the WRC gaming franchise, with more details to be revealed soon.
This development is a tough blow for motorsports fans, especially following EA's acquisition of the storied British racing studio in 2020. The news arrives amidst reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including roughly 100 at Respawn Entertainment.
Codemasters has been a pioneer in the rally gaming genre for nearly three decades, starting with the iconic 1998 release, Colin McRae Rally. This title launched a series of successful and highly acclaimed racing games. After the tragic passing of Colin McRae in 2007, the series transitioned away from his name and evolved into Dirt. The 2009 release, Dirt 2 (known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions), marked a significant evolution, which was further refined into a hardcore simulation with 2015's Dirt Rally.
2023's EA Sports WRC was a landmark release for Codemasters, being the first rally game to hold an official WRC license since 2002's Colin McRae Rally 3. According to IGN's review, EA Sports WRC combined the class-leading feel of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0 with an officially licensed World Rally Championship experience. However, it was hampered by technical issues, described as a "great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one." Subsequent updates aimed to address these issues, particularly screen tearing.
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