EA Sports WRC Gameplay Deep Dive Reveals New Details

Following last month’s announcement trailer, EA has released an EA Sports WRC deep dive video showcasing new gameplay footage.

Narrated by WRC reporter and commentator Molly Petit, the video details how Codemasters has improved the gameplay and handling to make EA Sports WRC the most authentic rally experience yet, with a closer look at the cars, stages, and improved handling.

Rallying through the seasons

By switching to Unreal Engine, EA Sports WRC’s rally stages are longer and most realistic in Codemasters’ history, with the longest stages spanning over 30 kilometres. 

At launch, EA Sports WRC will boast over 600km of unique roads, with more than 200 stages across 17 real-world locations from the 2023 WRC calendar. New to the 2023 calendar, the Central European Rally will be added post-launch in a free update.

Each stage is a replica of the actual roads in the WRC. In a surprising revelation, the trailer reveals that rallies can be tackled across Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter for the first time in a Codemasters rally game.

This will add further variety, with seasons and weather conditions bringing unique challenges. Driving through a hot summer stage will be radically different to tackling the same roads in wet and snowy winters.

First look at Rally1 hybrid system

You’ll be taking on these epic stages in both current and historic rally cars. EA Sports WRC will feature 80 cars across 18 classes, spanning 60 years of the sport’s history from humble two-wheel drive cars to overpowered Group B monsters.

Like in WRC Generations, the top-class Rally1 cars in the current championship feature a hybrid system. You’ll need to charge the battery when braking and apply the hybrid boost strategically to carry extra speed out of corners.

Adjusting the hybrid system to find the right balance for each stage will be key for success: an aggressive throttle will drain the battery faster, while a cautious approach ensures hybrid boost isn’t deployed until the throttle exceeds an input of 70%.

With a focus on authenticity combined with an innovative car builder, EA Sports WRC could set new standards in rally gaming. 

Handling carried over from DiRT Rally

While driving on asphalt leaves a lot to be desired, DiRT Rally’s off-road driving physics are universally acclaimed. While the engine under the bonnet is new, EA Sports WRC’s driving physics are based on DiRT Rally, but refined for the new game.

With feedback from professional rally drivers, the result is the most “authentic and dynamic handling model the team has built to date” and “the most realistic driving experience ever seen in a Codemasters rally game.”

While it’s based on DiRT Rally, the handling system has been upgraded with improved tarmac handling, force feedback, aerodynamic simulations, drivetrain inertia, progressive braking, and more. Every car feels distinct across each class, whether you’re driving a lightweight classic RWD car or a modern FWD car.

DiRT Rally is renowned for its relentless difficult, but EA Sports WRC will be more welcoming for new players. A suite of assists lets you finetune the physics to match your skill level, and there are also two pace note systems. Selecting the simplified option reduces the complexity of the pace notes, with more basic and easier to understand co-driver calls.

Next week will see another gameplay deep dive breaking down EA Sports’ various game modes including the builder mode.

Release date

EA Sports WRC slides onto PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on 3 November. However, players who pre-order can start rallying three days earlier on 31 October.