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In a recent update that has sent ripples through the rally gaming community, Codemasters has officially confirmed that no additional expansions will be released for EA Sports WRC, the 2023 racing title that marked a major return to form for official World Rally Championship games. According to the developer, the team has now “reached the end of the road” in terms of content updates and support for the game. Even more surprising is the announcement that the studio is also “[pausing] development plans on future rally titles,” effectively putting a hold on what many hoped would be a new era of off-road racing experiences.
The UK-based studio, known for its long-standing expertise in racing simulations, shared this news directly through an official post on [ttpp]. In their statement, Codemasters reflected on the legacy of their off-road racing journey, which began decades ago with titles like *Colin McRae Rally* and evolved into the modern *Dirt* series.
“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,” reads the official message from the studio. “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 official World Rally Championship also responded to the news via social media, though their message remained intentionally vague. They noted that the WRC gaming franchise is heading in a “new ambitious direction” with further details expected soon.
This decision by EA to halt further rally game development under the Codemasters banner comes as a significant disappointment to fans, especially in light of EA’s acquisition of the British studio back in 2020. That deal was widely seen as a strategic move to bolster EA’s presence in the racing genre, particularly in simulation-focused titles. The timing of this latest news is also notable, coming shortly after reports surfaced of over 300 layoffs at EA—including approximately 100 at Respawn Entertainment—indicating broader shifts within the company’s strategy and operations.
Codemasters’ influence on rally gaming dates back nearly three decades, beginning with the groundbreaking 1998 release of *Colin McRae Rally*. That title laid the foundation for a long line of critically acclaimed racing games. Following the tragic death of Colin McRae in 2007, the series dropped his name and rebranded as *Dirt*, continuing to evolve with each generation. The 2009 sequel, *Dirt 2* (released in Europe and PAL regions under the full title *Colin McRae: Dirt 2*), served as a turning point in the series’ identity, later shifting toward hardcore simulation with 2015’s *Dirt Rally*.
Fast forward to 2023, and *EA Sports WRC* represented a major milestone—it was the first Codemasters-developed rally title to feature an official WRC license since *Colin McRae Rally 3* in 2002. IGN’s review praised the game for capturing the essence of *Dirt Rally 2.0* while embedding it within a fully licensed WRC framework, describing it as “like a steel rod in Timo Rautiainen’s backside.” However, technical issues—including screen tearing—prevented it from reaching its full potential, with critics noting that it felt like “a great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one.” Post-launch patches were deployed to address these concerns and improve overall performance.
