EA today announced the return of the WRC rally series with EA SPORTS WRC, the new official game of the FIA World Rally Championship made by Codemasters using the DiRT Rally engine. Made exclusively for next-generation consoles and PCs, the is defined by EA as "the first true next-generation rally game and the title par excellence for driving simulation enthusiasts".

Here is the first official information about the game, followed by the announcement trailer and a set of images.

Combining the power of Unreal Engine with the physics of the DiRT Rally series, EA SPORTS WRC offers longer and more detailed stages than was previously possible, with 18 official locations of the FIA World Rally Championship and over 600km of rough sections on asphalt, gravel and snow. The game also boasts 10 current WRC, WRC2 and Junior WRC vehicles and 68 of the most iconic rally cars, spanning 60 years of the sport. In collaboration with the official WRC teams and manufacturers, such as Ford, Toyota and Hyundai, each vehicle has been built to meet all the challenges that will arise over the course of the season. The 4WD Rally1 hybrid cars are among the fastest in the history of the sport, capable of reaching incredible speeds while tackling gravity-defying jumps, deteriorated surfaces and adverse weather conditions.

The advanced Dynamic Handling System refines Codemasters' original model and gives players the most realistic off-road experience ever. Thanks to feedback from drivers, including former FIA Junior WRC title contender and FIA European Rally Championship ERC3 champion in 2023, and game designer Jon Armstrong, players can choose a professional driver set-up that reflects the drivers' experience each race week. New players can customize handling, which allows them to make adjustments that help them master the off-road challenge player versus environment. Realism also extends to audio, which reproduces the most intricate details of each car, and new rhythm notes, including simplified controls for novice drivers, which provide the player with the information needed to tackle each stage.

The introduction of Builder fulfills the dream of those who want to build their own modern rally car. Select the chassis, bodywork, and all-important mechanical parts before customizing the interior and exterior, and then customize it with the livery editor. Test the car and make all the necessary changes before competing for the World Championship in the best races the WRC has to offer.

EA SPORTS WRC brings fans together with 32-player cross-platform multiplayer, allowing you to compete with friends and the wider rally community. Using EA Racenet, EA's dedicated racing app, Clubs act as community gathering centers, offer personalized cross-platform tournaments, and allow you to compete anywhere and at any time of year. In addition to custom events, Moments, updated daily in the game, offer players the chance to relive crucial scenarios from the 2023 season along with traditional events from the sport's archives.