Opinion: DiRT Rally 3.0 Will Come, Just Not Named DiRT Rally

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DiRT Rally 3.0 is the next expected title in the realistic rally simulation niche by Codemasters. Or should I say was? How likely is the next title part of the DiRT franchise? Or will DiRT be the next franchise to bite the dust at EA's hands?

Let me start with: there will definitely be a successor to DiRT Rally 2.0. The only question is how it will be named.

Now why that sentiment? Codemasters' DiRT Rally team surely has been working tirelessly on the successor to the franchise. After all, the previous titles have been commercial successes, so why would they pull the plug?

However, since EA and Codemasters managed to secure the WRC license, previously held by Nacon and KT Racing, there is a possibility the next title will just be called something like "WRC". This decision would make sense from a business point of view. Marketing a racing title with the official name of the IRL series is way simpler and opens the game up to a larger audience.

So whatever the team behind the previous DiRT Rally games already did, what will that be used for?

Probably a title called either a combination of the "DiRT Rally" and "WRC" names or just "WRC". So let's brainstorm a bit:
  • DiRT Rally: The Official WRC Game
  • DiRT WRC
  • WRC 2023 (oh no)
One thing I hope we can all agree on is that EA and Codemasters will not be running 2 realistic rally simulation series next to each other. Another thing we hopefully can all agree on is that EA shouldn't throw another yearly series at us.

Unfortunately, just while writing this, I remembered we are talking about EA, whose sports department is heavily invested in the yearly formula and Codemasters, who already have the F1 series.

On the one hand, I am dreading what is coming up for the rally game niche. On the other hand, there is still Richard Burns Rally. Probably still my favourite rally sim to this day.

So, look into your crystal ball and tell us: What do you think, or hope, will happen to Codemasters and the WRC license? Let us know in the comments down below!
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About author
Julian Strasser
Julian Strasser
Motorsports and Maker-stuff enthusiast. Part time jack-of-all-trades. Owner of tracc.eu, a sim racing-related service provider and its racing community.

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H
I really hope they'll make use of the madness engine's dirt physics, and not the EGO engine's one.

WRC Generations is really a great game, I don't feel like playing another dirt: rally with horrible stages and the same old phyisics and FFB, I didn't even play DR2 for more than 5 hours, while I already got 10+ in WRC:G.
 
T
Since I base my rally-in-VR needs on DR2 and still love it, I remain relaxed and unexcited and wait. They screw up, don't add VR - I won't become a customer. I read praise and hear fanfares from overwhelmed fans - I will consider giving it a try.

Life can be so simple when you have no pressing needs or wishes. They want something from me, I don't want anything from them. That's good for me. Whatever they do, they'd better do it right, or I'll remain a shy boy and never answer their beckoning calls. Neither complexity nor drama in this situation. All is well. Comes time - comes code, then I will see.
 
D
My prediction: it will be called WRC '23, and will be a full price release, and for that full price you get the bare chassis of one car. Wheels, bodywork, engine etc will all be DLC. You want some opponents? Ok, you can buy the opponent pack DLC for £20. Whats that, you want some tracks to race on too? Ok, £10 each DLC please.
I'm joking of course, but it is EA after all so who knows!
 
R
DR 2.0 for me was a game with many issues. The DLC model was a joke, most of it being content found in their old game, yet you were paying a premium for it.

The online and update system was also a joke, basically installing the game again very update.

And the physics, and game design, it is almost as if the trend of making every game a sort of Dark Souls type impossihard deal was here too, so many aspects of 2.0 were not realistic, just designed to catch you out right near the end of stages. Wet weather was appalling, the stages were great and poor in equal type, aspects of road furniture were utterly stupid, finish boards made of rocks, and in places they would NEVER be on real stages, piles of dirt that were just rock, wrong notes deliberately wrong in tricky areas near stage ends to make you crash.

The game was hard enough as it is, there was no need at all to include this forced difficulty garbage in there, and it was certainly deliberate.

If you actually drove the cars as they were supposed to be driven they were not great, some were vastly improved over first game, some were awful, ever try a R5 Turbo on snow, it was like driving a wheelbarrow, literally zero front grip.

The first game was fabulous for me, obvious issues, rallycross was garbage, some physics utterly flawed like most mid-engined cars, the second game was literally a cash grab, not much more, ALL of the same content but you will pay more for it, the new stuff was good yes, but it was not a full price game, it was with everything, but not as DLC.

I would not buy another Dirt game now, and I never paid full price for the first two!
 
MrBraindown
Premium
It'll be called WRC 23 and there'll be yearly full-price releases with minimal changes between versions other than minor cosmetic tweaks and new menu animations.

A heavily monetized 'Rally Ultimate Team' aspect will be introduced, where, in exchange for real money, you'll be able to create your own rally team by buying a range of cars and drivers. You'll bizarrely be able to mix manufacturers and drivers regardless of current affiliations.

Later, special 'gold' cards will be released (for double the amount of cash) this will unlock former stars like McRae, Sainz, Mikkola and motors like the Stratos, Quattro and Manta.

You'll then be able to take on other players online via a series of heavily diluted, arcadey 'rallycross' stages. One will take place in some sort of building site, there will also be a quarry, a football stadium and maybe the moon or mars will also be available - but only for more money.

Each race will be played out with unbearably loud music, flashing lights and stuffed full of really zany cut-scenes featuring Ari Vatanen twerking whilst Didier Auriol flosses, both will be wearing gaudy outfits that you've spent even more of your real life money on.

It's going to be mega.

(They'll be no VR support)
 
Yap018
MrBraindown said:
It'll be called WRC 23 and there'll be yearly full-price releases with minimal changes between versions other than minor cosmetic tweaks and new menu animations.

A heavily monetized 'Rally Ultimate Team' aspect will be introduced, where, in exchange for real money, you'll be able to create your own rally team by buying a range of cars and drivers. You'll bizarrely be able to mix manufacturers and drivers regardless of current affiliations.

Later, special 'gold' cards will be released (for double the amount of cash) this will unlock former stars like McRae, Sainz, Mikkola and motors like the Stratos, Quattro and Manta.

You'll then be able to take on other players online via a series of heavily diluted, arcadey 'rallycross' stages. One will take place in some sort of building site, there will also be a quarry, a football stadium and maybe the moon or mars will also be available - but only for more money.

Each race will be played out with unbearably loud music, flashing lights and stuffed full of really zany cut-scenes featuring Ari Vatanen twerking whilst Didier Auriol flosses, both will be wearing gaudy outfits that you've spent even more of your real life money on.

It's going to be mega.

(They'll be no VR support)
Click to expand...
It's so sad how this is so unreal and real at the same time... At a moment I was hopeful for the Dirt/WRC future. Now that I've been thinking about it and visiting some more forums and opinions, I have completely lost all hope and am just expecting the worse monetization model and absurd content... It is sad
 
THK84
Whatever it's called, let's just hope they go more towards realism in stead of moving towards the F1 series. And VR from launch.

Other than that, I just try avoid thinking on how they are going ruin it by monetizing it into the ground and/or focus too much on a F1 style single player 'story experience'.

WeRuinedCodemasters '23
 
Last edited:
RaceNut
To CM and EA, it's just a game, one that has to have broader appeal and satisfy investors. It's really as simple as that.

Their next Rally title will certainly follow the same formula as previous titles (maximum ROI / more DLC / short cycle development & releases).

I do expect they will deliver excellent audio and good graphics, challenging gameplay, though. The motion effects should be quite decent as well. Just don't expect sophisticated physics and ffb. "It's NOT in the Game".
 
moontype
Yearly releases isn't Codemasters' forte so I foresee EA strong-arming them into a heavily monetized live service model
 
Last edited:
Kveilkur
'There will definitely be a successor to DiRT Rally 2.0.'
You think Codemasters is going to pay x2 development for two competing rally titles?
 

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