Summary
TheWRCvideo game franchise has found a new home just weeks after Electronic Arts officially ended its involvement with the popular racing series. French publisher Nacon has stepped in to take over the license, securing the rights to develop and publish officialWRCgamesfor years to come.
TheWRCgame series, based on the FIA World Rally Championship, debuted in 2001 and has gone through multiple iterations under various developers. Most recently,EA SportsWRClaunched in 2023, developed by Codemasters, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts. However, despite five post-launch seasons of content and two paid DLCs,EA confirmed it would no longer continue developmentofWRC, effectively pulling the plug on its tenure with the franchise.
Less than a month after the announcement that EA would drop theWRC, thepopular racing rally franchisehas found a new publisher. Nacon, which previously publishedWRCgames from 2013 to 2022, has now entered into a new agreement with WRC Promoter to publish official titles from 2027 through 2032. The publisher is already known for its involvement in motorsport titles, includingTest Drive Unlimited Solar CrownandMXGP 24 The Official Game, making it a familiar name in the racing genre. Nacon will be responsible for both the development and publishing of futureWRCgames, and will also own all rights to exploit theWRCfranchise in esports, leaving fans hoping for more rally competitions in the future.
New WRC Game Scheduled For 2027
The announcement marks a significant shift for theWRCgames, as Nacon plans a complete reboot of the franchise. The first title under the new agreement is currently slated for release in 2027, with development expected to begin soon. With a complete reboot on the way, Nacon stated its intention to provide afresh take on rally racing gameplay, appealing both to longtime rally fans and new players. However, no concrete details have been confirmed yet, and fans will have to wait a little longer to know what’s next forWRCin the years to come.
While the next officialWRCtitle is still a few years away, fans of the genre have other options to explore in the meantime. In 2025, severalracing games from the GameCube era are making a comebackwith fresh titles, likeKirby Air Riders,Mario Kart World, andSonic Racing: CrossWorlds. For those looking for more realistic games, theWRCfranchise is a safe bet, just likeForza HorizonorNeed for Speed.
