The next officially licensed World Rally Championship game now has a name, while Nacon has shown the Lancia Ypsilon HF Integrale Rally2 being laser-scanned as development continues.
Nacon has revealed new details about its upcoming official World Rally Championship game, confirming that the 2027 title will be called WRC – The Official Game. The announcement was made during the latest News From the Pits showcase, which also provided the first substantial behind-the-scenes look at how developer Grit Games is capturing cars and reference material for the new project.
The biggest reveal concerns the Lancia Ypsilon HF Integrale Rally2, which was shown undergoing a detailed laser-scanning process at PH Sport. This makes the Lancia the first vehicle to receive a dedicated development showcase for the new WRC game, although Nacon has not yet published a complete list of cars that will be available when the title launches in 2027.
The New Game Is Called WRC – The Official Game
Until now, Nacon had generally referred to the project as its next officially licensed WRC title. The latest presentation confirms that the game will be marketed as WRC – The Official Game, with its release currently scheduled for sometime in 2027. An exact launch date has not been announced, and Nacon has yet to confirm the complete list of supported platforms.
The project is being developed by Grit Games, a new studio created for this next phase of Nacon’s WRC licence. Development is taking place using Unreal Engine 5, representing a fresh technical foundation rather than a direct continuation of the technology previously used for titles such as WRC Generations.
Lancia Ypsilon HF Integrale Rally2 Laser-Scanned
The latest development footage takes viewers inside PH Sport, where Grit Games is collecting visual and technical references from several rally cars. The Lancia Ypsilon HF Integrale Rally2 receives the most attention, with the team using laser-scanning equipment to capture the vehicle’s exterior geometry and reproduce its proportions as accurately as possible inside the game.
The Lancia is particularly relevant to the current rally landscape following the manufacturer’s return to international competition with its Rally2 programme. Its appearance in the development footage provides the clearest indication yet of one of the modern rally cars being prepared for WRC – The Official Game, although final specifications and the complete launch roster remain unconfirmed.
Citroën C3 Rally2 Also Appears During Development
A Citroën C3 Rally2 can also be seen during the visit to PH Sport, apparently being used as part of the game’s audio recording process. Grit Games is gathering vehicle-specific reference material rather than relying solely on generic samples, with the latest footage showing microphones and recording equipment being used around the rally machinery.
Nacon has indicated that a future development presentation will focus more closely on the game’s sound production. That should provide further information on how engine notes, transmission sounds and other mechanical details are being captured for the new WRC title as development progresses towards its planned 2027 release.
Historic Rally Cars Spotted at PH Sport
Several other rally cars are visible in the background during the development video, including the Citroën DS3 WRC/R5, Citroën Saxo Super 1600, Citroën Saxo Kit Car, Peugeot 205 T16, Peugeot 3008 DKR and Peugeot 208 Rally4. PH Sport’s extensive collection gives Grit Games access to machinery from different generations of rally competition.
However, the presence of these cars in the footage does not confirm that they will appear in the final game. At this stage, they should be considered part of the environment shown during the studio visit rather than confirmed additions to the vehicle roster. The Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 remains the clearest officially showcased car so far.
Grit Games Is Building the New WRC From Scratch
The upcoming WRC title represents a new beginning for Nacon’s rally series rather than a continuation of KT Racing’s previous games. Grit Games is building the project from scratch in Unreal Engine 5, with the studio focusing on creating a new technical foundation for vehicle physics, environments, sound and other core elements of the driving experience.
This approach gives the development team an opportunity to redesign several systems without being tied to the architecture used by previous WRC titles. Nacon has not yet demonstrated actual gameplay, however, so details regarding the handling model, stage structure, career mode, multiplayer and supported sim racing hardware remain to be revealed in future presentations.
WRC – The Official Game Is Coming in 2027
WRC – The Official Game is currently scheduled for release in 2027, when Nacon begins the next stage of its official World Rally Championship gaming licence. The company has not yet confirmed a specific launch date, final platform list, pricing structure or the full selection of championships, cars and rally locations that will be included.
For now, the latest showcase confirms three important elements: the official WRC – The Official Game name, development with Unreal Engine 5 and detailed vehicle-capture work involving the Lancia Ypsilon HF Integrale Rally2. More development updates are expected as Grit Games moves closer to the game’s 2027 release.
See you on the track!
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