End of the Road: EA Pauses Development on WRC Games, Shuts Down 25-Year Dirt Franchise
In a move that's sent shockwaves through the racing game community, Electronic Arts (EA), via Codemasters, has announced a pause in development for all future rally titles, effectively ending the iconic Dirt and Colin McRae Rally franchises after a quarter-century. The news comes as a blow to fans who have enjoyed decades of thrilling off-road racing experiences.
Codemasters, the UK-based studio specializing in racing games acquired by EA in 2021, revealed in a recent update that there will be no new updates or expansions for 2023's EA Sports WRC. This title, which was intended as a successor to the Dirt series, now marks the end of an era that began on the original PlayStation with Colin McRae Rally.
"For now, we are pausing development plans on future rally titles,” Codemasters explained. "Our [World Rally Championship] 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. Thank you to all the fans who have and continue to be part of our rally journey.”
While EA Sports WRC will remain available to players, the announcement signals a significant shift in EA's racing game strategy. The last entry in the Dirt franchise, Dirt 5, was launched back in 2020.
The World Rally Championship (WRC) itself has acknowledged the shift, stating that its gaming franchise is “going in a new and ambitious direction,” promising more news soon. This leaves fans wondering what the future holds for official WRC-licensed games. Before Codemasters took over in 2021, Kylotonn held the rights.
However, it's not all doom and gloom for racing game enthusiasts. Codemasters is still actively developing other racing games, including the annual F1 series and, hopefully, future installments in the Grid franchise. They recently showcased gameplay for F1 25, highlighting reversed tracks and improvements made through LIDAR scanning, promising greater realism.
"The tech behind LIDAR gives players unprecedented levels of detail, bringing them closer to each race weekend," said Gavin Cooper, creative director at Codemasters.
The news about the WRC pause contrasts sharply with the excitement surrounding F1 25, leaving rally racing fans feeling particularly disheartened. F1 25 is slated for release on May 30, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
What does this mean for the future of rally gaming? Will another studio step up to fill the void left by Codemasters? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below. Do you think EA will ever return to rally titles?
