The next official World Rally Championship game will be developed by Grit Games, a studio making its debut on the franchise with WRC 2027. French publisher Nacon announced the project in a video reveal, marking a significant shift after Codemasters ended its involvement with the series.
Codemasters released EA Sports WRC in 2023 using Unreal Engine 4, then stepped away from rally titles entirely. That decision handed Nacon the opportunity to reclaim the WRC license for the 2027 to 2032 period. Nacon previously published seven WRC games between 2015 and 2022, all developed by Kylotonn, the studio now known as KT Racing.
Many expected KT Racing to resume development duties on the new title, given its long history with the franchise. The studio had handled WRC Generations in 2022 and six games before it. Instead, Nacon selected an entirely new team in Grit Games, which will build WRC 2027 from the ground up on Unreal Engine 5.
The publisher has divulged minimal details beyond the engine choice and that a Grit Games team visited the 2026 Monte Carlo Rally in January to observe the competition firsthand. However, Nacon did name several key staffers who previously worked at KT Racing, signaling some continuity despite the studio change. Hardouin Pouzet, who served as lead game programmer on WRC 7 through WRC 9, has joined the effort. Alexandre Assier, who produced those same titles, is also involved. Laura Gayet, an artist who worked on Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, rounds out the named additions.
The Unreal Engine 5 decision puts WRC 2027 on the same technical foundation as Assetto Corsa Rally, a competitor title currently available in Early Access on Steam that has earned strong impressions from the racing community. This represents a generational leap from Codemasters' use of Unreal Engine 4.
The exact release window for WRC 2027 remains unconfirmed, though the title gives a clear target year. With Nacon's license agreement spanning six years, the publisher has secured the official WRC game rights through 2032, ensuring at least one more title after this launch if the partnership holds.
Author Emily Chen: "Grit Games inherits serious shoes to fill, but stacking the team with KT Racing veterans while committing to Unreal Engine 5 suggests Nacon isn't taking chances on this comeback."
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