Codemasters has officially announced that no additional expansions will be released for EA Sports WRC 2023, marking the end of active development for the title. In a further setback for rally fans, the studio has also suspended plans for future rally-themed games.
The veteran UK racing studio shared the update on EA.com.
"Our WRC partnership represented a milestone in Codemasters' off-road racing legacy, building on decades of experience through franchises like Colin McRae Rally and Dirt," the studio stated. "We've created a gathering place for rally enthusiasts worldwide, constantly innovating to capture the adrenaline-fueled essence of precision driving. Throughout our journey, we've assembled brilliant racing game developers, collaborated with motorsport legends, and shared our passion for rally culture."
The World Rally Championship responded to the announcement on social media with an enigmatic statement suggesting the "WRC gaming franchise is embarking on an exciting new chapter, with more details to follow soon."
EA's decision to halt Codemasters' rally game development will disappoint motorsport fans, particularly following EA's high-profile acquisition of the renowned British studio in 2020.
This development follows recent reports of EA implementing significant workforce reductions, affecting over 300 employees including approximately 100 from Respawn Entertainment.
For nearly thirty years, Codemasters has pioneered rally video games, beginning with the groundbreaking Colin McRae Rally in 1998. This seminal racing simulator launched a celebrated franchise that evolved after Colin McRae's tragic passing in 2007, rebranding as the Dirt series. Dirt 2 (2009), titled Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in certain regions, represented an evolutionary step before the series reinvented itself as a serious simulation with 2015's Dirt Rally.
EA Sports WRC 2023 marked Codemasters' return to official WRC licensing since Colin McRae Rally 3 in 2002. IGN's review praised how it distilled the exceptional handling model from Dirt Rally 2.0 (2019) into an authentic WRC package, though technical issues initially compromised what could have been an outstanding racing experience. Post-launch updates addressed some performance concerns, particularly regarding visual artifacts.
