EA Strikes Again, Publisher Kills Racing Franchise

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Summary

  • EA has killed off another franchise, the rally series, leading to a pause in future rally titles development.
  • Codemasters’ rally racing franchise joins the list of killed series by EA, including Dead Space and Titanfall.
  • Need for Speed Unbound, the latest game in the franchise, received its last live service update, leaving its future uncertain.

In light of yesterday’s revelation that not only did projects get terminated at Electronic Arts, but more job cuts ensued, Electronic Arts has made further reductions today by discontinuing yet another series.

For this particular occasion, we find ourselves discussing a racing series, though perhaps not as widely adored as the Need for Speed series. Nonetheless, it holds a special place in the hearts of its sports enthusiasts and will surely be missed.

EA Announces “Development Update” Confirming Rally Series Is Dead

According to a recent announcement by developers at Codemasters, they’ve confirmed that the “Hard Chargers Content Pack” will mark the final content for the racing simulator. Furthermore, following Electronic Arts’ acquisition of Codemasters in 2021, it appears that the rally series previously known as DiRT has officially been discontinued.

As an enthusiast, I want to share some exciting news: While we’re taking a break from planning new installments of our future rally titles, don’t worry! EA SPORTS WRC will still be accessible and ready for both seasoned players and those just joining in on the fun. We hope it continues to provide you with endless joy, excitement, and the heart-pumping thrill of rally racing. We’ve invested our passion into creating this game, and we believe you’ll keep the fire burning bright!

Our collaboration with WRC marked a significant milestone in Codemasters’ long-standing adventure with off-road racing, encompassing titles like Colin McRae Rally and DiRT over several decades. We’ve created a platform for every rally enthusiast, consistently pushing the limits to offer the heart-pounding excitement of driving on the edge. We’ve teamed up with brilliant racing developers, collaborated with some of the sport’s legends, and had the privilege of expressing our passion for rallying. This is what the studio expressed.

This implies that Electronic Arts (EA) has recently discontinued Codemasters’ rally racing series. Over time, EA has purchased numerous companies, and as a consequence, they have also ended the production of these studios’ games when their performance did not meet EA’s expectations.

Among some well-known game series that seem no longer active are Dead Space (though it did receive a remake, there’s been no new content), Titanfall, Road Rash, Fight Night, Medal of Honor, and numerous others.

Here’s hoping that World Rally Championship (WRC) is one of the few franchises left by Electronic Arts (EA), but I have my doubts. EA’s other racing game series, Need for Speed, doesn’t seem to be thriving either. The most recent installment in the Need for Speed series, Need for Speed Unbound, hasn’t received a live service update since February of this year, and there’s been no announcement about a new game in the series yet.

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2025-04-30 23:09