Codemasters Ends Rally Game Series

Codemasters has announced it will not release any additional expansions for EA Sports WRC in 2023, marking the end of active development for the game. The studio is also halting plans for future rally titles, delivering a double blow to fans.

The veteran UK racing developer shared the news on EA's official website.

"Our WRC partnership represented the culmination of Codemasters' decades-long journey in off-road racing, from Colin McRae Rally to the Dirt franchise," the statement reads. "We've dedicated ourselves to authentic rally experiences, bringing together top developers and motorsport legends while pushing the limits of virtual driving thrills."

The World Rally Championship organization responded to the announcement with a cryptic social media post about the franchise moving in "an ambitious new direction," promising more details soon.

This development delivers disappointing news for motorsport enthusiasts, particularly after EA's high-profile acquisition of Codemasters in 2020.

The rally division's restructuring follows EA's recent workforce reduction of over 300 employees, including about 100 from Respawn Entertainment.

For nearly 30 years – since 1998's groundbreaking Colin McRae Rally – Codemasters has defined rally simulation gaming. The franchise evolved into the Dirt series after the tragic death of its namesake in 2007. Dirt Rally (2015) marked a return to hardcore simulation, building on the foundation laid by 2009's transitional Dirt 2.

EA Sports WRC (2023) represented Codemasters' first official WRC license since 2002. While our review praised its core driving mechanics – which built on Dirt Rally 2.0's excellence – technical issues initially held back what could have been a definitive rally experience. Post-launch patches notably addressed screen tearing problems.