In the past few years, EA has made a committed play to swipe up as many official sporting brands and bring them into their stable. With their 2021 acquisition of the inedlible Codemasters, they have since spun up the annual F1 title as well as introduce and F1 Manager tie-in. So it will come as no surprise that EA Sports has once again ventured into the realm of virtual racing with their latest offering, the officially licensed WRC game. While the initial impression might suggest it's just another tie-in with the World Rally Championship, a closer look reveals that EA Sports WRC is much more than a mere licensed game.



Among some of the standout, and rather ironically, some of the worst, features of EA’s WRC is its visual representation. I would love to proclaim that the developers have managed to capture the essence of the WRC events, creating a visually immersive environment that enhances the overall gaming experience, it is however, a two-sided coin here. On one hand there are moments of exceptional realism, glistening melting ice at twilight in Monte Carlo creates a spectacle on the tarmac, dust lingers for what feels like minutes in the baking sun of Mexico and brilliant rain leaves many of its competitors in the dirt. And then there’s the snow, in what I can only liken to a recent rain effect implemented in a certain GTA Remaster. Noisy, interrupting, and downright unplayable, some of the effects added are... a choice.



WRC just feels a little lacking on the graphical front, considering it is a current-gen only (and PC) title; it feels a little half-baked from where it has the potential to be, no doubt the experience brought in by the Codemasters acquisition would lend itself to greater visual fidelity, but this is quite concerningly missing from this.

Worse than that, screen tear plagues this title in a way that makes it a deeply distracting experience. Of all games, racing titles need to peak at near flawless levels of framerate and smoothness, especially in a rally title. With so much at stake and so little room for error, focusing on the callouts and finding a groove is a nightmare when an egregious screen tear snaps your focus. This is quite simply unacceptable for a rally title, especially one on current-gen, and while I am sure updates will follow to reduce this, my entire experience was marred by this immersion-breaking annoyance.



It’s not all doom and gloom and it’s not just about the aesthetics. Naturally, being baselined on the outstanding DiRT Rally series, and showing it’s DNA, the handling of the rally cars feels realistic, providing players with a genuine sense of control and responsiveness. The game successfully strikes a balance between accessibility for casual gamers and depth for those seeking a more realistic simulation. This can be tweaked to a degree for more hard-core racers but as a baseline, this is quite easy to pick up and play. I’ve found previous titles are quite punishing jumping from WRC 2 to the pros, with ultra-torquey cars throwing you a curve ball on every corner. This, however, is easy to pick up and play, even in the top tier. This is easily the most approachable iteration to date.

The game successfully strikes a balance between accessibility for casual gamers and depth for those seeking a more realistic simulation.

The various game modes, including career and multiplayer options, cater to a broad audience, ensuring there's something for everyone. Moreover, the inclusion of the official WRC license extends beyond branding. The game mirrors the intensity and challenges of real-life WRC events, offering a sense of authenticity that fans of the sport will undoubtedly appreciate. I thoroughly enjoyed the damage model across the board; there’s a great sense of realism here with options to do quick fixes, full repairs, and entire component replacement. Numerous modes including a brilliant ‘Moments’ mode allows you to recreate historic runs and battles against the odds. The surprising Builder mode offers up the opportunity to outfit and build an entire vehicle using cars from the 60’s all the way up to present day, customising components and liveries.



The diverse range of rally locations and stages adds a layer of unpredictability, keeping you engaged and on their toes throughout the gameplay. Over 600 kilometers of in-game tarmac, snow, and dirt all feel fantastically different with the solid handling model, which no doubt leans into learnings from DiRT. Stages, while very well-realised, are left a little wanting at points. There seems to be a trend in EA’s WRC to create curbs of dirt that litter every track, creating an annoying verge that requires extra vigilance to avoid. Initially I thought this was only a problem in Sweden, but it persisted on and on across countries and really broke the immersion factor for me.

Sound design deserves a special mention, as it complements the visual and gameplay aspects seamlessly. Engine notes are exceptionally good, with various pop’s, bang’s and turbo whistles to boot. The crunching of gravel, and the cheers of the crowd contribute to an immersive auditory experience that enhances the overall realism of the game. This is maybe one of the best auditory experiences produced to date and I weigh that highly, especially in a racing title where things are prone to get a little droney.



I cant help but feel that the strong rally heritage that this team is known for has been almost forgotten; this feels like a strong first outing for a new studio, not seasoned veterans. I distinctly remember gushing about the original DiRT Rally that Codemasters fired out in 2016. It was groundbreaking, every iota of the sport was covered and so very cleanly. From overall feel right down to the tiny little touches, like the sound of your co-drivers voice rattling as you hit a rough section, changing into a cautious pitch as you hit higher speeds. All these little things have been left by the wayside in what feels like a very vanilla kind of experience.

This is maybe one of the best auditory experiences produced to date and I weigh that highly, especially in a racing title where things are prone to get a little droney.

While it's worth noting that the developers will release patches to address such issues post-launch, I don’t see how they can truly change the fundamentals here. There is a distinct lack of soul in their first licensed outing, and I do hope they are up to the task of bringing the series in their next iteration that is more deserving of it’s name.



That being said, EA’s WRC is not a fundamentally bad title, it just isn’t a particularly stand out one either. There is a lot of work to be done and here’s hoping they “don’t cut” on their next installment. If you’re looking to bridge the gap between Kyloton’s WRC titles and scratch that seasonal itch, you will no doubt enjoy this game and find yourself losing hours to it, but if you’re hoping to find rally’s holy grail, this isn’t it.

*PS5 Review code provided by ZamZam Distribution