In a surprise announcement today, Codemasters confirmed it is halting development on all future rally racing titles, effectively bringing EA’s 25-year run in off-road motorsport to a close. The decision ends a lineage that began with Colin McRae Rally on the original PlayStation in 1998 and evolved through the Dirt series before culminating in EA Sports WRC in 2023.
On April 30, the UK studio—acquired by Electronic Arts in 2021—published a statement on its website explaining that while EA Sports WRC will remain playable and supported with online services, “we are pausing development plans on future rally titles.” The post praised decades of work on high-octane rally simulations, from legendary heads-up drifts in cramped cockpits to the expansive open stages of modern rallycross. “Our WRC partnership was a culmination of sorts for our journey with off-road racing,” the statement read, “and we thank every fan who shared our passion for rallying.”
The news is especially poignant because the Dirt franchise—spun off from Colin McRae Rally—has long been regarded as one of the most authentic and technically ambitious rally series in gaming. Dirt 5, released in 2020, introduced freestyle arenas and co-op showdowns, but critics and fans alike still hailed the gravel-spraying realism of earlier entries. Industry analyst Jane Mitchell noted that, despite niche appeal, Codemasters’ rally games consistently punched above their weight, earning both critical acclaim and steady sales in a market dominated by asphalt-only racers.
EA’s decision echoes a broader trend: publishers focusing on blockbuster, annualized franchises and live-service titles often sideline specialized genres. In a recent earnings call, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen highlighted the company’s strategy to “invest in our top driving franchises,” namely the F1 series and Need for Speed, but offered no specifics on rally’s future. A spokesperson for EA told reporters that while rally development is paused, “we remain open to the right opportunity down the road,” suggesting a soft close rather than a firm shutdown.
Fans took to social media to lament the loss. On Reddit’s r/rallygaming, longtime community member “GravelGuru92” wrote, “I grew up mastering McRae’s Saab. This feels like the end of an era.” Another user posted archived footage of the Colin McRae: Dirt trailer, captioning it, “Look at this beauty—and remember it fondly.”
Despite the pause, Codemasters will continue work on other beloved racing IPs. The studio still handles EA’s annual F1 titles—recently praised for their graphical leap and realistic tire physics—and is expected to support Grid Legends with future content. Analysts predict that the freed-up resources could accelerate development on these track and street racers.
For now, rally enthusiasts can continue downloading EA Sports WRC for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, and enjoy community-made mods and custom stages that keep the spirit alive. But without a new Dirt 6 or Colin McRae reboot in sight, the off-road iconography of dust-choked forests and moonlit mountain passes may soon belong solely to retro playlists and YouTube highlight reels.
