Layoffs Confirmed at F1 Developer Codemasters

The extent remains unknown

by Khayl Adam Tue 5th Dec 2023

In more unfortunate layoff news, UK-based developer Codemasters has confirmed an unknown number of redundancies. The veteran studio is best known for its high-quality racing series, F1 and WRC, and was purchased by EA back in 2021.

An EA spokesperson provided a statement to IGN, which attributes the "small-scale organizational changes" to the business's need to be "constantly changing as we strive to deliver amazing games and services that keep our players engaged, connected, and inspired." EA promised to provide appropriate support to affected staff throughout the restructuring process.

EA purchased Codemasters for $1.2 billion. CEO Andrew Wilson said he wanted the studio to retain as much identity as possible, leaving the studio to cook, as the kids might say. Codemasters' CEO Frank Sagnier and CFO Rashid Varach left shortly after, and the company was ultimately folded into EA Sports.

It's becoming difficult to keep track, but 2023 has been a rough year for the video game industry. As always, we hope the employees impacted land on their feet.

[source ign.com]

Khayl Adam is Push Square's roving Australian correspondent, a reporter tasked with scouring the internet for the richest, most succulent PlayStation stories. With five years of experience as a freelance journalist and mercenary wordsmith, RPGs are his first great love, but strategy and tactics games are a close second, genres in which he is only too happy to specialize.

1
nessisonett
Tue 5th Dec 2023

Poor Codies. One of the big UK devs and they’ve been gutted by EA.

2
Nem
Tue 5th Dec 2023

EA strikes again.
The ruiner of studios continues to churn.

3
itsfoz
Tue 5th Dec 2023

Disgusting. Codies had it all going and EA just shot in the heart of it.

4
Sil_Am
Tue 5th Dec 2023

Dirt 5 is their best game. It's like they took the rally part of Forza Horizon and made a circuit only racer. The physics are very similar. Wish we'd get more of that.
Rest of their games are very borring, at least for me.

5
Ainu20
Tue 5th Dec 2023

@Sil_Am Dirt Rally for me. Especially in VR with a steering wheel, that was the best rally game I've ever played. The old Colin McRae games were brilliant as well, with 4 being my favourite of that bunch.

6
Sil_Am
Tue 5th Dec 2023

@Ainu20 Yea, everybody is saying it's their best, but it's too sim for me. That needs a wheel, no other way.

7
Stickleman
Tue 5th Dec 2023

Tbf F1 23 has been the first decent F1 game since 2020 and 22 was a mess... New WRC is OK but not the massive change people were hoping for and their past couple of grid games have been pretty average at best so surprised they haven't had to "restructure" sooner

8
Blofse
Tue 5th Dec 2023

I'm still surprised codies sold, does anyone know if it was an aggressive buy out or anything? Effectively EA consuming the competition so there are no more left and it has a monopoly in sports games. I.e. bad for consumers, we can expect only minimal quality improvements if any to F1 and wrc games from now on, or even less quality.

Sad days, I actually went to the codies building once just to have a look - was quite interesting as such.

9
Northern_munkey
Tue 5th Dec 2023

I said EA would destroy codemasters right from the start and here we are. Sad news indeed.

10
sanderson72
Tue 5th Dec 2023

All this and Embracer (or should that be backstabber?) closing Free Radical by the end of the year?
Sheesh...

Given the buoyancy of the console market, you would've thought now would've been a good time in the games business but these cuts are devastating.

11
Drago201
Tue 5th Dec 2023

Bruh I'm getting so tired of depressing news everyday no matter where u go this sucks

12
SuntannedDuck2
Tue 5th Dec 2023

F1 games have been hit and miss of quality of races, besides their changes/features. As far as heard/seen of footage but I don't know enough as haven't bought the recent ones. Either way sucks to see layoffs. If QA sure I can understand but if not then hmm questions there.

EA and their control too. I do wonder how the F1/WRC licenses will go, if Grid will survive even loved Legends improvements (It wasn't perfect but it was improved over 2019 and well I binged it to Platinum, rare for me with any racing game especially a modern one as hate most of them).

It was probably my 2022 game of the year as everything else I either hadn't played till 2023 and bought cheap, was disappointed by or something else.

Wish the best for Codemasters.

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