Some developers are synonymous with certain genres. You can’t imagine NetherRealm not pushing the envelope of taste outside of a fighting game, while the thought of a Bethesda game that isn’t an open-world of adventure and glitches is preposterous and deserving of the highest HARUMPH than one can muster.
Throw Codemasters onto that list. They’ve made some fantastic racing games over the years, making a name for themselves in that genre. But other types of games that don’t rely on horses under the hood? Recently, they haven’t been too successful when branching out. And that’s why the UK studio is (re)re-focusing on doing what they do best.
Which of course means that there’ll be some restructuring on the way. Speaking to Eurogamer, Codemasters explained their new expanded focus on the four-wheeled genre, and how it would affect their Malta studio and the Battle Decks game:
While it’s been great to explore projects outside of racing, we know that our hearts belong to racing in all its many glorious forms. The success of DiRT Rally’s Early Access programme has been incredible, F1 2015 was very successful reaching number one in many territories, we’ve recently announced that Micro Machines will come to mobile and we have a strong road map ahead of us that keeps racing as its razor focus.
With Battle Decks’ development complete, we’re saying goodbye to Malta and looking to fold talent from its 11-person team into our most successful studios here in the UK as we double-down on racing to develop future titles that will demonstrate our absolute commitment to the category.
Makes sense I guess. Codemasters hasn’t had an easy transition into the latest generation of consoles. Their financial year that ended in March 2015 saw a massive drop in profits to the tune of a £20.8 million loss, when compared to 2014. Low sales results such as this were the result of a mere two game releases for 2014, Grid Autosport and F1 2014, that saw the developer leave the old-gen behind. Add to that the horrendously crappy Overlord III, and it might be for the best that the developer is ditching anything that doesn’t involve practice laps.
Things should be looking up soon however. Dirt Rally on PC has seen plenty of love, F1 2015 saw a proper release on PlayStation 4 and an annual sequel is naturally in the works. Now to see if I can convince Codemasters to pick up the license for the greatest racing game ever made and then abandoned, Blur.
Last Updated: November 26, 2015
Admiral Chief - World on Fire
November 26, 2015 at 12:03
I’ve never played a CM racing game
Ottokie
November 26, 2015 at 12:06
They are awesome, take Grid or Grid 2 out for a spin 😛
Hammersteyn
November 26, 2015 at 12:13
Agreed
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:34
GRID 2 is garbage (the only game on my Steam account that I have a special “Ignore” category for), but GRID 1 was an excellent game. Autosport almost got back up to GRID 1 levels, but fell just a bit short.
Ottokie
November 26, 2015 at 12:44
Good thing you said Autosport is not so bad because I have been pondering to get it 🙂
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:46
I put quite a lot of hours into Autosport and I bought the Season Pass (all on special…because I didn’t trust Codemasters after GRID2) but I was pleasantly surprised.
The online (though dead now) was also fun as you could build a team and a separate MP garage.
Ottokie
November 26, 2015 at 12:47
I think I shall have that Humble Bundle then, it looks great.
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:48
Worth it for GRID and GRID Autosport alone.
Ottokie
November 26, 2015 at 12:49
Grid 1 is not included it seems.
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:52
Might be under “more games coming soon”
I see now DiRt Showdown is there too.
Smallish game, but it’s got it’s charm. Just a real drive around like a crazy person vibe.
Ottokie
November 26, 2015 at 12:53
I still play Dirt 3 now and then, will have a loot at showdown.
Darren Peach
November 26, 2015 at 12:39
GRID 2 has no Cockpit view. For me, That was a mistake.
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:41
GRID 2 had worse handling than all of the worst NFS titles combined. It also had insane AI that bumped you around like pin-balls without getting affected themselves. It also had no monetary system, no ownership of cars and no real feeling of progression as a racing team.
To me it’s by a long shot the worst title Codemasters ever produced.
Darren Peach
November 26, 2015 at 12:42
Phew, Dodged a bullet.
Ottokie
November 26, 2015 at 12:45
I don’t usually use the cockpit view, I prefer to be on the bonnet, so it was not so bad for me 😛
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:46
Me too.
Darren Peach
November 26, 2015 at 12:46
Yeah, I remember the days where I lived and died by the third person view in racing games. Ironically, Grid was the first game where I really embraced the cockpit view
Fox1 - Retro
November 26, 2015 at 12:19
Colin McRae Rally was brilliant back in the day and Race Driver was very close to GT/Forza.
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:35
Race Driver (RIP) was one excellent series.
RD3 is still one of my favourite racing games to play with friends.
Fugly'sCrypt
November 26, 2015 at 12:10
They’ve made some fantastic racing games over the years <—– did they pay you to type that Darryn
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:29
Good. Maybe they can redeem themselves again.
Pieter Kruger
November 26, 2015 at 12:30
I don’t blame them for bad F1 games, I blame F1. Since all the cars now sound like VW Beetles I lost all interest…
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:33
Blame international regulations.
miaau
November 26, 2015 at 12:32
F1 2010 on Xbox 360. Wow, what a game. So fast, so much fun. AND it was well implemented in terms of difficultly settings and all that. I have to assume f1 2015 is the same.
great for all levels of peoples
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:33
Loved it.
Though the F1 games have always been pretty solid…with a few weak links here and there.
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:32
Blur got old after a few races. That’s not even racing. I don’t know what that is.
DiRT rally seems decent, but the fact that a big dev like Codemasters is releasing Early Access isn’t getting me too convinced about their new direction.
Darren Peach
November 26, 2015 at 12:43
Has anyone else reached a point where racing games are getting long in the tooth. When you play Gran Turismo and Forza year in and year out, It really starts to feel stale. Project Cars served to amplify that feeling. Shift freshened the genre up a little, but still….
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:48
I get what you’re saying. Shift did add a bit of excitement to it again. As far as track racing games go, there are only a few that are still truly entertaining. Assetto Corsa is one though, but bring your A-game, it’s unforgiving.
Darren Peach
November 26, 2015 at 12:49
This is why VR could be so important.
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:51
You said it. Simply being able to turn your head and look to your side would make sure a nice difference.
Darren Peach
November 26, 2015 at 12:54
I think it will be a momentous shift in gaming history…….Hopefully ( Notice the built in cynical view ).
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
November 26, 2015 at 12:51
The standout CM games are GRID, F1 and CM Dirt, more specifically Dirt 3, It took the shape of adding just enough fun to a rally game to have you fight for positions in the Hoonigan category…
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 12:53
Race Driver 2 and 3. Spent many hours racing friends on that.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
November 26, 2015 at 12:57
I enjoyed the Dirt series, not only because I’m a rally fan, but because it was really fast paced, I plunged so many hours into that that I could tell if the car was ready face the third corner ahead of me, trying to achieve the ultimate power line, naturally that also translated into how easy it is to crash….
Captain JJ never changes
November 26, 2015 at 13:00
I agree. It was a really exciting series. I spend a lot of time on them myself also.
What I enjoyed about Race Driver was that it had track racing, karts, rally, raid and formula. And none of them felt like the other. These days in most games they can barely get an Audi and a BMW to feel different from each other.
Darren Peach
November 26, 2015 at 13:09
“Now to see if I can convince Codemasters to pick up the license for the greatest racing game ever made and then abandoned, Blur.” What game are you referring to ?
Decembermaloy
November 26, 2015 at 14:06
Blur was awesome, I still have it on PC and I would love to see it return.
InF3rN0
November 26, 2015 at 20:16
Blur? No no no no no no no no no no. Sign me in for some PGR stylish driving… or even better, Midtown Madness love.