Codemasters releases DiRT Rally 2.0

Published by

Nicky Godding

Codemasters, the Southam, Warwickshire-based video game developer and publisher specialising in high quality racing games, has released its latest game, DiRT Rally 2.0.

DiRT Rally 2.0 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed DiRT Rally and the thirteenth title in the series that began in 1998 with Colin McRae Rally. The game includes a number of iconic rally locations from across the globe, classic and modern vehicles, as well as a series of unique new features.

DiRT Rally 2.0 also exclusively features the official 2018 FIA WORLD RALLY CROSS CHAMPIONSHIP season including eight of the official WorldRX circuits at launch.

The game has already received positive reviews from journalists globally and as of today, is available on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam).

Codemasters, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in May last year, is an award winning British video game developer and publisher established over 30 years ago. It is one of the oldest British games studies and was established by brothers Richard and David Darling. The company specialises in high quality racing games including DiRT, GRID and the BAFTA award-winning official F1® series of videogames.

The company's parent company is Indian company Reliance Big Entertainment. Reliance first acquired a 50 per cent stake in Codemasters in 2010. The Indian company increased its stake in the games developer to 60 per cent in 2013.

Leamington Spa is the heart of Warwickshire’s games community and, along with surrounding towns including Warwick and Southam, is developing a reputation as one of the country’s leading centers of gaming outside of London, with the cluster known locally as ‘Silicon Spa’.

Around 130 of the UK’s best gaming companies are based in the West Midlands, creating 3,000 to 3,500 full-time employees (FTEs). Over 50 of these companies are situated in and around Leamington Spa with between 2,000 and 2,500 FTEs working there, over 10% of the total UK games development workforce.

Alongside Codemasters other gaming businesses include Playground, Exient, Sega Hardlight, and a recent addition, Ubisoft Leamington. Warwickshire businesses have, over the year, been behind some of the industry’s greatest successes including Colin McCrae, F1, and Forza Horizon. Recent developments have included mobile hits for Disney, Warner Bros, and Sega.

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.