EA Cuts Roles at Codemasters, Aims to Redeploy Staff
May 03, 2025 2:36 PMEA has confirmed it is reducing roles at Codemasters following the end of its partnership with the World Rally Championship. This announcement follows a series of layoffs at EA affecting numerous employees as the company shifts focus to its owned IP and other strategic priorities. The move comes shortly after EA paused development on WRC games, raising concerns regarding the future of racing games under the EA Sports label. Approximately 2200 developers have lost their jobs within just the first four months of 2025.
What does EA's focus shift mean for future racing games?EA's focus shift towards owned intellectual properties and large online communities suggests that future racing games might move away from traditional partnerships like the WRC. This could result in original titles that emphasize online features and services, rather than solely relying on existing franchises.
Codemasters is known for its racing simulation games, particularly the DiRT and F1 series. The studio has a rich history in motorsport gaming and has produced acclaimed titles that contribute significantly to the racing genre. As EA navigates these changes, the direction and nature of future racing games could reshape how fans engage with virtual motorsports.
Alex Riverton
Alex Riverton is a seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience in the gaming industry. Known for their in-depth analysis and hands-on previews, Alex has built a reputation for insightful commentary on gameplay mechanics and storytelling in videogames.
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Stimpy commented on: 2025-05-03 14:48:11
It’s wild how EA’s strategic priorities always seem to involve layoffs—here’s hoping their in-house racing projects actually respect the sim roots Codemasters built. Fingers crossed we don’t end up with another always-online, microtransaction-filled burnout. (Keeps it light but skeptical, focusing on EA’s track record and the risk to quality without echoing other takes.)
Mr. Bison commented on: 2025-05-03 14:42:10
EA’s pivot to owned IPs feels like a double-edged sword—fresh ideas could shake up the genre, but losing Codemasters’ expertise in sim racing stings. Hopefully, this doesn’t mean fewer deep, authentic racing experiences in favor of live-service fluff. (Keeps it casual but critical, touches on the trade-offs without rehashing other comments.)
