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Codemasters “Biggest AAA Game” is World Rally Championship Amid QA Troubles
- Thread starter IbizaPocholo
- Start date
- Game Dev Hype
IbizaPocholo
NeoGAFs Kent Brockman
Codemasters "Biggest AAA Game" is World Rally Championship Amid QA Troubles
Despite previous claims that Codemasters is committed to the DiRT series going forward, sources suggest that this is no longer the case.
exputer.com
Job listings of Codemasters’ “most ambitious and biggest” AAA game were first revealed in August 2021, hyping up racing fans about the possibilities of what the title could be.
According to sources familiar with Codemasters plans, the title is on the World Rally Championship.
In 2020, Codemasters signed an exclusive five-year deal spanning from 2023 to 2027 to develop and publish games based on the FIA World Rally Championship series (via GI.biz). Despite previous claims that Codemasters is committed to the DiRT series going forward, sources suggest that this is no longer the case.
DiRT Rally 3 was seemingly scrapped in late 2021, with the studio now focusing on F1, GRID, and the WRC going forward. In fact, hints of the change came in February 2022, with the official Twitter profile of the DiRT account being changed to @EASPORTSRally. The mode was to coincide with the announcement of Jon Armstrong’s Rally3 car story but to lay the foundations of the change.
It’s unclear when the new WRC game will be announced, but the title is scheduled to release sometime in 2023. However, the development of the game could be off to a rough start with sources within Codemasters implying that the studio is currently ongoing some huge problems within its QA department.
The studio, which had around 200 individuals under QA several months ago has now been reduced to an estimated 120. According to four individuals who wish to remain anonymous, the problem lies with Codemasters leadership and EA, which has resulted in poor management of the QA department.
Concerns in Town Hall meetings are ignored, with recent contracts being unconventionally compared to other studios. In December 2021, the whole QA department had their contracts renewed until March 2022 (3 months) with the latest contract being offered to July 2022 (4 months).
The latest contract has offered QA a £600 pay increase on top of their salaried amount, plus entitlement to EA Games which usually 10 EA titles per year for free. Staff had hoped that the acquisition of the studio by EA would have resolved the issues, but nothing has yet changed, with those speaking out feeling like they are not a true part of the Electronic Arts family. As a result, QA reductions seem to be because of QA staff choosing to not renew rather than contract terminations.
It’s not clear what ramifications this will have on Codemasters’ future titles, but it’s hoped by those still at the studio that these issues will be resolved promptly.
Men_in_Boxes
Snake Oil Salesman
I only play AAAA games now.
drotahorror
Member
Thought for sure they'd milk Dirt Rally 3.0 til WRC '23 came out. Really hope they release 'next-gen' only. DR 2.0 looked great at times, WRC should look insane.
Don Carlo
Member
Dirt is being scrapped, EAAAA!!!!!!!Codemasters "Biggest AAA Game" is World Rally Championship Amid QA Troubles
Despite previous claims that Codemasters is committed to the DiRT series going forward, sources suggest that this is no longer the case.
Job listings of Codemasters’ “most ambitious and biggest” AAA game were first revealed in August 2021, hyping up racing fans about the possibilities of what the title could be.
According to sources familiar with Codemasters plans, the title is on the World Rally Championship.
In 2020, Codemasters signed an exclusive five-year deal spanning from 2023 to 2027 to develop and publish games based on the FIA World Rally Championship series (via GI.biz). Despite previous claims that Codemasters is committed to the DiRT series going forward, sources suggest that this is no longer the case.
DiRT Rally 3 was seemingly scrapped in late 2021, with the studio now focusing on F1, GRID, and the WRC going forward. In fact, hints of the change came in February 2022, with the official Twitter profile of the DiRT account being changed to @EASPORTSRally. The mode was to coincide with the announcement of Jon Armstrong’s Rally3 car story but to lay the foundations of the change.
It’s unclear when the new WRC game will be announced, but the title is scheduled to release sometime in 2023. However, the development of the game could be off to a rough start with sources within Codemasters implying that the studio is currently ongoing some huge problems within its QA department.
The studio, which had around 200 individuals under QA several months ago has now been reduced to an estimated 120. According to four individuals who wish to remain anonymous, the problem lies with Codemasters leadership and EA, which has resulted in poor management of the QA department.
Concerns in Town Hall meetings are ignored, with recent contracts being unconventionally compared to other studios. In December 2021, the whole QA department had their contracts renewed until March 2022 (3 months) with the latest contract being offered to July 2022 (4 months).
The latest contract has offered QA a £600 pay increase on top of their salaried amount, plus entitlement to EA Games which usually 10 EA titles per year for free. Staff had hoped that the acquisition of the studio by EA would have resolved the issues, but nothing has yet changed, with those speaking out feeling like they are not a true part of the Electronic Arts family. As a result, QA reductions seem to be because of QA staff choosing to not renew rather than contract terminations.
It’s not clear what ramifications this will have on Codemasters’ future titles, but it’s hoped by those still at the studio that these issues will be resolved promptly.
Don Carlo
Member
IbizaPocholo
you should update the article and title
Bernd Lauert
Banned
This better not be cross gen.
Don Carlo
Member
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Everything points to CHESHIRE STudio for this news https://www.videogamer.com/news/dir...-ambitious-and-biggest-game-in-over-a-decade/
I remember that CHESHIRE Studio is the remnant of Evolution Studio creators of WRC, Motorstorm, DriveClub and Dirt5. I am really looking forward to a AAA WRC and I think Chesshire Studio is a very good choice.
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Don Carlo
Member
It definitely will, this is what the game is all about.
Don Carlo
Member
NostalgiaI wish we could return to the old days of the GOAT:
Codemasters giving up on the Dirt (or previously Colin McRae Rally) brand is slightly depressing.
Fox Mulder
Member
It seems better than the last Grid and is already on sale like everywhere for $40. I assume it bombed coming out when it did, but I might pick it up.
IbizaPocholo
NeoGAFs Kent Brockman
Don Carlo
Member
Just great
IbizaPocholo
NeoGAFs Kent Brockman
Beer Baelly
Al Pachinko, Konami President
Still the best nextgen racer imo.
drotahorror
Member
I really liked Dirt 5 too. A game that I think deserved a little more recognition.
Buggy Loop
Member
I want Dirt Rally 3 with WRC license god fucking damnit! Don’t fuck it up! Fuck Dirt 5 arcadey racing.
Black_Stride
do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
WRC 2023 is exactly that.
Its Dirt Rally 3.0 just with official current stages and current cars.
Legit Dirt Rally 3.0 in all but name....and probably scope cuz they will likely have to give it a career mode that follows the current WRC calender.
The Dirt name will likely be kept for when they are making arcadey racing games, so we can all differentiate when its gonna be a survival horror game or a fun romp in the sun.
Dirt Rally 2.0: Sweden, Night, Heavy Snow, Cockpit View = Survival Horror.
Thats the scariest shit ive played in a long time, basically holding my breath the whole stage, sphincter clenched tighter than a vice.
Yup.
drotahorror
Member
You got it all wrong. Dirt Rally is a rogue-like souls-like with survival horror elements.
Buggy Loop
Member
Late reply but
No
Maybe with a controller it is similar, but the game on PC is very disappointing for peoples with rigs. Throttle having no effect before you hit the 95% zone is a known issue and the devs have simple stated "it's by design". FOV options are bad and don't scale well with sim rig setups on large TVs.
Devs basically threw this one out as a love letter to the genre as they lost the WRC license, but they also dropped support like a brick.
Black_Stride
do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
Wait what are you disagreeing with?
That this new WRC 2023 game is effectively Dirt Rally 3.0 with an official license?
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Buggy Loop
Member
Ah sorry, i thought you were referring to WRC generations,
You’re talking about Codemasters WRC 2023.
Then yes, should be Dirt rally 3.0
I didn’t see any announcements though, must be why I was not registering.