After more than two decades shaping the rally racing genre, Codemasters has announced it will pause development on upcoming rally titles. The British studio, a favorite for its Colin McRae and Dirt series, revealed that its collaboration with the World Rally Championship (WRC) has ended, marking a significant turning point for fans and the franchise.
The news came on Wednesday when Codemasters, now part of EA since 2021, confirmed the conclusion of their WRC partnership. This means that EA SPORTS WRC’s recently launched Hard Chargers Content pack will be the final expansion tied to the 2024 season.
Codemasters stated:
“Every great journey eventually finds its finish line, and today, we announce that we’ve reached the end of the road working on WRC.”
“After releasing EA SPORTS WRC in 2023, the 2024 season, including the recently released Hard Chargers Content pack, will be our last expansion.”
“For now, we are pausing development plans on future rally titles. Rest assured, EA SPORTS WRC will continue to be available for existing and new players. We hope it remains a source of joy, excitement, and the excite of rally racing. We’ve poured our hearts into making it for fans, and we know you’ll keep the passion alive.”
This announcement closes a chapter that began in 1998 with Colin McRae Rally, which set high standards for off-road racing games with its authentic feel and challenging courses. Over time, Codemasters expanded this legacy through multiple iterations, such as Dirt Rally. The developer highlighted how their work united passionate racing developers alongside some legends from motorsport itself.
The studio added:
“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 interesting excite of driving on the ragged edge.”
“We’ve brought together incredibly talented racing developers worked with some of sport’s icons shared our love of rallying.”
“Thank you to all fans who have and continue to be part of our rally journey.”
This news arrives amid broader restructuring at Electronic Arts. Earlier this week, reports surfaced about layoffs affecting up to 400 employees across several teams. Whether these changes directly impacted Codemasters hasn’t been confirmed yet.
The End of an Era in Rally Gaming
This pause leaves many wondering what comes next for both Codemasters’ celebrated franchises and official licensed WRC games in general. Fans who grew up playing these titles might find this moment bittersweet but can still enjoy existing content going forward without immediate concerns about disappearing support.
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