We’ve been hearing about EA Sports’ officially licensed World Rally Championship title for what feels like an eternity, but Dealabs’ ever-reliable billbil-kun has now broken the first details. The racing simulation – launching on PS5 alongside other modern consoles – is targeting a 3rd November launch date, with three-day early access available with the Champions Edition. A 10-hour trial will also be available to EA Play members from 31st October.
This is consistent with most major EA Sports launches, so it all adds up. While it is odd that we haven’t seen or heard anything about the game yet, most publishers are switching to shorter promotional cycles, so there’s plenty of time for the firm to get the message out ahead of launch. One interesting point to note is that billbil-kun claims the game will cost £49.99/$49.99, which is significantly less than most modern PS5 releases these days.
To further verify the rumour, Dealabs says that the game’s box art will feature a Ford Puma Rally1 M-Sport on a snowy track at Rally Sweden 2023. Of course, assuming all this is accurate we’d expect the game to be announced within the next month or so, because EA Sports will need at least six weeks to build up to its release.
[source dealabs.com]
Comments 20
No VR no buy
Dirt rally was brilliant in VR
I've not picked up VR2 yet, but if this is anything like as good as the CM DiRT series, then it's a day one for me.
I'll remain optimistic despite EA's control over this; it's just exciting to see Codemasters tackle the WRC license.
Kylotonn had a solid entry with WRC9 but for me fumbled the ball with 10 and Generations (they felt like a step back). It's in need of some fuel injection.
Been playing Generations as a quick in between after finishing FF XVI and waiting for Starfield, but I got totally hooked. Such a lovely game. Since it’s packed with content and for rally games the graphics don’t matter too much (you don’t have time to watch them anyway) I’ll be good for the coming years.
Cautiously optimistic about this one. Codemasters has earned my trust over the years with the Dirt series but we all know EA has a way of mucking things up. With the Crew Motorfest and Forza coming in the next months going to be hard for them to get some traction but I hope its a great experience. And as others said VR is a much needed feature!
I’m wondering if Codies are gonna give us quality over quantity - a cracking a rally sim, but not every country from the FIA Rally Championship will be represented 🤔
Will it have split screen
@KillerBoy Dirt 5 had up to 4 player split screen and they made a big deal out of it so there's a good chance it will!
I’d love to see Toca Race Driver make a come back. Loved that game
@CaptD Amen. Whenever I try a flatscreen racing game these days I just start thinking how much more fun it would have been in VR.
i suspect EA won't be able to help themselves. Think Project Cars 3. it will stink imho. there'll be micro transactions galore, a gear shop, XP. the last thing it will be is a simulation.
I am just being selfish but I will we got arcade race games like Split/Second again.
@redd214 let’s hope so!
@KillerBoy
Split screen in a official WRC game? I think the Rallycross isn’t a part of WRC. So split screen would also be awkward. It would be fun if Rallycross had its own game imo.
@Boucho11 toca 3 multiplayer online was my first venture on PS2, was amazing at the time.
Looking forward to this. Bit worried about EA's involvement but not massively so. I just want to chuck a car down a mountain without facing a hefty mechanic's bill.
Even if no VR which will be sad to see. I don't trust EA with this. I was surprised by how Grid Legends even turned out.
But for WRC/F1 I am skeptical with anything they touch there they wanted those licenses and will mess with them no matter what.
I expect it to be passable but EA watching over on the MTX, to the general game design, if it has a EA Football Ultimate Team or some other garbage included in the package for the story modes, career mode or multiplayer (even if I don't play multiplayer) then no thanks.
I already hate many career modes in GT/Forza currently, enjoyed Grid Legends/Ride 1-3/Wreckfest approaches more (yes going back to TOCA PS1 1 & 2 I never played or PS2 era (rebought 1, owned 3 since forever, still on the look out for 2 saw an Xbox copy but can't play it on 360 and don't have an OG Xbox yet) has been fun to experience too),
I'd hate for ruining of bland career modes to happen in these games. I have only played WRC 2 (7th gen era not Extreme sadly I couldn't get the disk but got the case/manual and a demo disk recently XD),
WRC 4 (7th gen), WRC PSP and I enjoyed WRC 2 the most with the way it structures things.
I have considered the later ones to jump into though just don't know which one.
Even F1 it's 11 or 16, MotoGP it's 3 & 4 (love 3 for it's challenges and 20 original tracks yeah I know I shouldn't judge it that way but if the later games offer good challenges I'm fine with that).
So yes I am outdated on what the games have done and I won't claim to know anything about them either.
Even reviews of 10 I don't know enough about what it offers having not played it.
I haven't played the later developer changes ones only the PSP and 2 Milestone entries so far. Generations or 10 I do wonder how they even are still/currently?
Glad Project Cars (I know 3 was a Shift 3 not a Project Cars 3, name aside, advertising aside it is what it is, that doesn't matter here) and Dirt/Dirt Rally series died for the licenses EA does want.
Official reveal on the 5th September!! Yyeeessss!
I can't wait to see how they transform Dirt Rally saga into a kind of Gran Turismo rally. :S
Have to say I’m done with EA/CM racing games….
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