Codemasters’ Dirt and Grid titles set to lose online services in March 2026

Electronic Arts has confirmed that several legacy racing games from Codemasters — including Dirt 3, Dirt Showdown, Grid 2, and Grid Autosport — will lose their online services on March 16, 2026.

The update was quietly added to EA’s official Online Services Shutdown page, as spotted by DelistedGames.

These titles span multiple platforms, including Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Steam, EA App, Switch, and even macOS.

For fans hoping to squeeze in some final online sessions, there’s a catch. As pointed out on forums like PSNProfiles, these games originally required an Online Pass to access multiplayer features. Since those passes were delisted years ago, many players may not even be able to jump online before the servers shut down.

The Dirt series, originally spun off from Colin McRae Rally, carved out a niche with its mix of rally racing, off-road chaos, and arcade-style flair. From the gritty realism of Dirt Rally to the demolition derby madness of Dirt Showdown, the franchise offered something for every kind of racing fan.

Meanwhile, the Grid series — born from the TOCA Race Driver lineage — leaned into cinematic motorsport experiences. Titles like Grid Autosport delivered deep car tuning and class-based racing, while Grid Legends introduced a story mode with live-action cutscenes and dynamic rivalries.

The timing of this shutdown isn’t entirely surprising. Earlier this year, Codemasters confirmed layoffs in May 2025, following EA’s decision to halt all rally game development, including future Dirt and WRC titles. EA cited a strategic shift to “drive greater focus across the portfolio,” but longtime fans saw it as the end of Codemasters’ rally legacy — one that began with Colin McRae Rally back in 1998.

Since EA acquired Codemasters in 2021 for $1.2 billion, the studio has undergone several changes. In 2022, the Dirt 5 team in Cheshire was folded into Criterion Games to help shape the future of Need for Speed. Meanwhile, recent entries in the F1 and WRC franchises have reportedly struggled to meet commercial expectations.