NACON has secured an agreement to develop and publish official WRC games and to oversee any esports competitions tied to the brand from 2027 through 2032. This news comes mere weeks after EA Sports announced a pause on development plans for all rally titles, revealing ‘the end of the road working on WRC.’
This is the first news we’ve had regarding the direction of the WRC license.
Road to Rally
In a statement published by the WRC, it was confirmed:
As part of this strategic partnership, NACON will begin development of an all-new WRC game series, aiming to deliver an immersive experience that faithfully reflects the reality of the championship and meets the expectations of both rally enthusiasts and new players.
The games will feature the official rallies, vehicles, teams, drivers, and sponsors among the many anticipated content elements. This project represents a complete reboot of the franchise, based on an entirely fresh vision, and marks an ambitious new chapter in the brand’s development.
The FIA WRC’s Chief Marketing Officer, Arne Dirks, spoke on the new licensing deal:
After a comprehensive evaluation, we are delighted to have reached an agreement with NACON.
Their vision for the franchise stands out, and their expertise in delivering great rally games is unquestioned. We look forward to breaking new ground together in this collaboration, to truly turn the WRC games into epic adventures and offer gaming experiences beyond rally as we know it today.
This isn’t NACON’s first foray into the rally space. The company published some of the most recent games in the series, including WRC 10 and WRC Generations. EA Sports has only held the license since 2023, before the recent announcement marking the end of the line for the publisher and the brand.
Are you looking forward to seeing what happens with WRC under NACON? Let me know on the Insider Gaming forum.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Half-Life 3 could be ‘the final chapter’
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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