It’s a new year, and in terms of several video game franchises, it is definitely business as unusual. The last time that EA slapped its logo on an F1 video game was all the way back in 2003, and almost two decades later (and a hefty $1.2 billion as well) the next game in the series will bear the Electronic Arts label once again.

With Battlefield 6 a top priority, EA is shifting studios around to help handle the workload and has tapped Need for Speed’s latest developer, Criterion, to lend DICE a hand in its next war epic.

EA’s plan to acquire racing game factory Codemasters may have been one of the smartest purchases that the company has ever made. With the UK powerhouse producer in its pocket, EA not only has access to IPs such as Formula 1, Dirt, and Grid, it has actual talent that it can trust with its own racing game properties as well.

Slipping through Take-Two Interactive's blind spot and taking pole position, EA's revving its engine for a potential takeover of racing games giant Codemasters.

Dirt 5 is a V8 hooligan with a devil may care attitude, familiar to wrap your thumbs around, and a fantastic distraction when you’re looking to get some mud on your face.

Though it’s no cause for concern, rally fans! It’s only by a few weeks so you shouldn’t have to wait too long to get your tires nice and dirty!

Rallying, the maddest sport on the planet because entire throngs (Throngs I say!) of people reckon that standing close enough to a track to get a full mu facial from ludicrously over-horsepowered cars, is making yet another comeback this year. Having conquered the bastard-hard simulation disciplines in the Dirt Rally series, Codemasters is preparing for another lap around the course …

Massive racing game juggernaut Codemasters has signed an exclusive five-year deal to pump out official FIA World Rally Championship games.