Codemasters has officially announced that they will not be releasing any further expansions for the 2023 edition of EA Sports WRC, signaling the end of their development journey with the game. Additionally, the studio has confirmed a pause on future rally game projects. This news was shared through an announcement on EA.com.

The statement from Codemasters reflects on their long-standing history with off-road racing, mentioning iconic titles like Colin McRae Rally and Dirt. They emphasized their commitment to rally enthusiasts and their efforts to push the boundaries of rally gaming, collaborating with racing legends and passionate developers.

The World Rally Championship has responded to the announcement on social media, hinting at a new direction for the WRC gaming franchise with more details to be revealed soon.

This development is a significant blow to motorsport fans, especially considering EA's acquisition of Codemasters in 2020. The news follows reports of over 300 layoffs at EA, including about 100 at Respawn Entertainment.

Codemasters has been a leading name in rally video games since the release of Colin McRae Rally in 1998. This game set the stage for a series of acclaimed racing titles. After Colin McRae's passing in 2007, the series was rebranded as Dirt. The transition was notably marked by 2009's Dirt 2, which was known as Colin McRae: Dirt 2 in Europe and other PAL regions, and later evolved into the hardcore simulation of 2015's Dirt Rally.

EA Sports WRC, released in 2023, marked Codemasters' return to an officially licensed WRC game since 2002's Colin McRae Rally 3. According to IGN's review, the game successfully captured the essence of 2019's Dirt Rally 2.0 within the framework of the World Rally Championship. However, it was marred by technical issues, such as screen tearing, which subsequent updates aimed to address.