Codemasters

File:Codemasters logo (1986).jpg

While attending school in Vancouver, Richard Darling and his elder brother, David Darling, had learned programming with punch cards and had access to the school's computer room outside of hours through one of the school's janitors.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrogamer.net/profiles/company/codemasters/ |title=Codemasters |first=Darran |last=Jones |date=30 December 2016 |website=Retro Gamer |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603133828/https://www.retrogamer.net/profiles/company/codemasters/ |archive-date=3 June 2017 |url-status=live}} Additionally, on weekends, they were allowed to use the Commodore PET computer owned by their father, James, to create a text version of Dungeons & Dragons. Later on, the two brothers and school friend Michael Heibert, whose family possessed a VIC-20 computer, founded Darbert Computers and created video game clones of popular games, such as Galaxian and Defender.

The Darling brothers later returned to England, where they acquired their own VIC-20 and founded Galactic Software, again with the help of Heibert. An advertisement placed in the magazine Popular Computing Weekly caught the attention of Mastertronic, a British software publisher, and the two brothers quit their education to pursue development of budget-priced games for the company. These games included Space Walk, BMX Racers, Jungle Story, Orbitron, Sub Hunt and Pigs in Space. They also developed The Games Creator, a game-making tool that would later be sold commercially. The Darling brothers found success in making these games, gaining {{GBP|200,000|link=yes}} by the time they were 16 and 17 respectively. In 1985, the two owned a 50% stake in Mastertronic, which they proceeded to sell in March 1986 when they decided to become independent. By October 1986, the Darling brothers, with help from their father, had founded Codemasters. They initially worked out of the Beaumont Business Centre in Banbury, where their elder sister Abigail managed the front desk.

Codemasters' first game was BMX Simulator, a successor to BMX Racers. According to David Darling, the company aimed at making budget-priced games with the quality of full-priced games, as they would gain a larger customer base that would subsequently create better exposure. To produce more games in less time, Codemasters started hiring developers on a freelance basis. Products developed using this strategy include G-Man and Danger Zone by Mike Clark, Terra Cognita by Stephen Curtis, Super Robin Hood and Ghost Hunters by the Oliver Twins, Super Stuntman by Peter Williamson, Lazer Force by Gavin Raeburn, and ATV Simulator by Timothy R. Miller. By April 1987, Codemasters started seeking programmers that would create platform conversions of Codemasters' games in exchange for four-digit sums, via placements in Popular Computing Weekly.

As the 8-bit computer market diminished, Codemasters turned to develop for the 8-bit and 16-bit console markets, as well as moving away from their budget title legacy to more full-price games on the 16-bit computers — 1992 saw the last title in the Dizzy series, Crystal Kingdom Dizzy, released at full price rather than budget price. They had major success with the Micro Machines series{{Cite web |last=Churchill |first=James |date=3 October 2022 |title=The Making Of Micro Machines, The Best Racer On The NES |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/05/feature_the_making_of_micro_machines_the_best_racer_on_the_nes |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}} and Pete Sampras Tennis on the Sega Mega Drive. Both franchises featured the J-Cart, allowing two extra controllers to be attached to the game cart without requiring Electronic Arts' 4 way play or SEGA's four-player adaptor.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Codemasters is notable for making the large majority of games published by Camerica, which bypassed Nintendo's lock-out chip by glitching it and produced unlicensed NES games.{{Cite news |date=13 June 2008 |title='Darlings' of UK games honoured |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7452798.stm |access-date=21 August 2022}} These NES games were known for being shiny gold and silver cartridges.{{Cite web |title=Camerica (Company) |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/camerica/3010-1189/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=Giant Bomb |language=en}} Many Codemasters titles were also featured on Camerica's Aladdin Deck Enhancer.{{Cite web |last=Buck |first=David |date=15 June 2018 |title=Codemasters History: The NES' Best Unlicensed Developer |url=https://tedium.co/2018/06/15/codemasters-history-nes-nintendo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826225918/https://tedium.co/2018/06/15/codemasters-history-nes-nintendo/ |archive-date=26 August 2022 |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=Tedium: The Dull Side of the Internet. |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Aladdin Deck Enhancer (www.nesworld.com) |url=https://www.nesworld.com/article.php?system=nes&data=nes-aladdindeckenhancer |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=www.nesworld.com}}

In 1990, Codemasters developed a device called the Game Genie, which came out of the lockout bypass work to play unlicensed games.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2018 |title=The Game Genie was originally meant to do much more than help you beat Battletoads |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-game-genie-was-originally-meant-to-do-much-more-tha-1826920506 |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en-us}} It was a cheat cartridge for the NES, released in the US by Galoob and in Canada and the UK by Camerica. In the case Galoob v. Nintendo, Game Genie was determined not to violate Nintendo's copyright under fair use.{{Cite web |title=Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc., Plaintiff-appellee, v. Nintendo of America, Inc., Defendant-appellant.nintendo of America, Inc., Plaintiff-appellant, v. Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc., Defendant-appellee, 964 F.2d 965 (9th Cir. 1992) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/964/965/341457/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of Am., Inc. {{!}} Case Brief for Law School {{!}} LexisNexis |url=https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/casebrief/p/casebrief-lewis-galoob-toys-inc-v-nintendo-of-am-inc |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=Community |language=en}}

In an effort to establish themselves in the United States, they announced that they would launch a new development studio in Oakhurst, using offices that were abandoned by Sierra On-Line and hiring much of Yosemite Entertainment's laid off staff in mid-September 1999.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Between 1998 and 2003, Codemasters teamed up with Jester Interactive Limited to publish their range of music creation software, for PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and PC, MUSICtm, Music 2000, MTV Music Generator and MTV Music Generator 2.{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Yoh |title=How a PlayStation Music-Making Game Inspired a Generation of Producers |url=https://djbooth.net/features/2017-05-19-mtv-music-generator-history |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=DJBooth |date=19 May 2017 |language=en}} In 2003 this partnership was dissolved, with Jester releasing their own Music 3000 product. Codemasters released their final music based product, MTV Music Generator 3, in 2004.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Codemasters have since continued to release titles for later generation systems, such as the Brian Lara Cricket series, Colin McRae Rally and Dirt series, Dizzy series, F1 series, Grid series, LMA Manager series, Micro Machines series, Operation Flashpoint series, Overlord series, Project CARS series and TOCA series. They owned the rights to use the title Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (2011), but have parted with the original developer Bohemia Interactive Studio. In spite of this, Codemasters released Operation Flashpoint: Elite, developed by Bohemia, for Xbox in October 2005. The year 2005 also saw the appointment of Rod Cousens, formerly of Acclaim, as managing director.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In December 2006, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment entered into a game distribution agreement with Codemasters to distribute the company's titles in North America.{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2006/12/19/warner-bros-to-distribute-codemasters-games/ |title=Warner Bros. to distribute Codemasters games |first=Zack |last=Stern |date=18 December 2006 |website=Engadget |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030035818/https://www.engadget.com/2006/12/19/warner-bros-to-distribute-codemasters-games/ |archive-date=30 October 2018 |url-status=live}} Also in April, Codemasters launched the massively multiplayer online role-playing game, The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar in Europe on behalf of Turbine. In June, Codemasters were purchased by equity group Balderton Capital{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/balderton-capital-buys-out-founders-of-codemasters-company-receives-pound50m-funding-from-goldman-sachs |title=Balderton Capital buys out founders of Codemasters, company receives £50m funding from Goldman Sachs. |author=GamesIndustry International |date=14 June 2007 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030035837/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/balderton-capital-buys-out-founders-of-codemasters-company-receives-pound50m-funding-from-goldman-sachs |archive-date=30 October 2018 |url-status=live}} and they changed their logo to an interlocked metallic C and M. Later that month they released the latest in the Colin McRae Rally series, Colin McRae: Dirt. They also published Overlord and Clive Barker's Jericho. Following the death of Colin McRae on 15 September 2007, Codemasters released a public statement expressing their sorrow and support for the family.{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Phil |date=17 September 2007 |title=Codemasters releases McRae statement |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/codemasters-releases-mcrae-statement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821233037/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/codemasters-releases-mcrae-statement |archive-date=21 August 2022 |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=David |date=17 September 2007 |title=Codemasters Leads Tributes To Colin McRae |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/codemasters-leads-tributes-to-colin-mcrae |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=Game Developer |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Burman |first=Rob |date=17 September 2007 |title=Codemasters Pays Tribute to Colin McRae |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/09/17/codemasters-pays-tribute-to-colin-mcrae |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=IGN |language=en}}

In March 2008, Codemasters announced a new partnership with Majesco Entertainment which would focus on titles for DS and Wii, including Nanostray 2, Toy Shop, Cake Mania 2 and Nancy Drew: The Mystery of the Clue Bender Society for DS, and Wild Earth: African Safari, Our House and Cake Mania for Wii.{{cite web |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/business/codemasters-unveils-majesco-partnership |title=Codemasters unveils Majesco partnership |author=MCV Staff |date=6 March 2008 |website=MCV |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218140827/https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/codemasters-unveils-majesco-partnership/ |url-status=live}} In May, it was announced that Codemasters had won the rights to the Formula One licence after Sony's deal ran out and thus ending Psygnosis and Sony's Formula One series.{{Cite web |last=Bagbey |first=Jordan |title=Codemasters Acquires F1 Racing License, "F1 09" to Be Released Next Year |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/22222-codemasters-acquires-f1-racing-license-f1-09-to-be-released-next-year |access-date=20 April 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} The first resulting game, F1 2009, was released on the Wii and PlayStation Portable in November 2009, and another similar game, F1 2010, on the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in 2010.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

On 8 April 2008, Sega announced the closure of Sega Racing Studio. The studio's only release had been Sega Rally Revo, which was greeted with fairly positive reviews but poor sales figures. At a later time Sega announced none of the employees were folded into internal studios.{{cite web |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/development/sega-racing-studio-closed |title=Sega Racing Studio closed |date=8 April 2008 |website=MCV |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218140839/https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/sega-racing-studio-closed/ |url-status=live}} On 25 April 2008, Codemasters bought Sega Racing Studio.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/25/codemasters-buys-sega-racing-studio |title=Codemasters Buys SEGA Racing Studio |first=Ryan |last=Geddes |date=25 April 2008 |website=IGN |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030090607/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/25/codemasters-buys-sega-racing-studio |archive-date=30 October 2018 |url-status=live}} The studio was headed by Guy Wilday, who was involved in the Colin McRae Rally games and was formerly the series producer.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_colinmcrae3 |title=Guy Wilday of Codemasters |author=Gestalt |date=29 July 2002 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030090616/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_colinmcrae3 |archive-date=30 October 2018 |url-status=live}}

In the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, the Darlings were appointed Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the video game industry.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a101229/cbe-awarded-to-codemasters-founders/ |title=CBE awarded to Codemasters' founders |first=David |last=Gibbon |date=17 June 2008 |website=Digital Spy |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030035431/http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a101229/cbe-awarded-to-codemasters-founders/ |archive-date=30 October 2018 |url-status=live}}

On 5 April 2010, Reliance Big Entertainment, an Indian company acquired a 50% stake in the company.{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/04/05/reliance-big-entertainment-acquires-50-stake-in-codemasters/ |title=Reliance Big Entertainment acquires 50% stake in Codemasters |first=David |last=Hinkle |date=5 April 2010 |website=Engadget |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030090523/https://www.engadget.com/2010/04/05/reliance-big-entertainment-acquires-50-stake-in-codemasters/ |archive-date=30 October 2018 |url-status=live}} Later in 2010, Codemasters launched the free-to-play version of Lord of the Rings Online. While originally scheduled for 10 September, it was delayed due to contractual reasons and launched on 2 November. In May 2011, Codemasters transferred control of the European Lord of the Rings Online to Turbine.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In May 2011, Codemasters signed a North American distribution deal with THQ.{{Cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110524007087/en/THQ-Partners-Announces-Distribution-Deal-with-Codemasters |title=THQ Partners Announces Distribution Deal with Codemasters |date=24 May 2011}} In March 2012, Codemasters renewed its American distribution deal with Warner Bros.{{Cite web |last=Mallory |first=J |date=26 March 2012 |title=Warner Bros. To distribute Codemasters games in 2012 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012-03-26-warner-bros-to-distribute-codemasters-games-in-2012.html |website=engadget}}

On 3 June 2011, the Codemasters.com website was breached. It is believed that the attacker was able to gain access to the personal information of registered users with Codemasters accounts. Codemasters notified its users about the attack via email on 10 June 2011, after which their websites were pulled down and users redirected to their Facebook page.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In mid-2012, it was announced that Codemasters' racing games, whether about to be produced or developed, would begin to be branded under the "Codemasters Racing" label. Dirt: Showdown and F1 2012 were the first racing titles to receive the new label name. The label was discontinued in 2016, as Codemasters' subsequent racing games, Dirt Rally and F1 2016 are branded with the regular Codemasters logo.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

On 9 June 2013, Reliance Entertainment increased its stake in Codemasters from 50% to 60.41%, making it the majority owner.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/10107985/Reliance-takes-stake-in-Codemasters-video-games.html |title=Reliance takes stake in Codemasters video games |first=James |last=Quinn |date=8 June 2013 |website=The Telegraph |access-date=3 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030035458/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/10107985/Reliance-takes-stake-in-Codemasters-video-games.html |archive-date=30 October 2018 |url-status=live}}

In April 2015 Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens left to join Jagex, leaving COO Frank Sagnier as the new temporary CEO.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-04-02-codemasters-boss-rod-cousens-leaves-for-runescape-dev |title=Codemasters boss Rod Cousens leaves for Runescape developer |first=Wesley |last=Yin-Poole |date=2 April 2015 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030090528/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-04-02-codemasters-boss-rod-cousens-leaves-for-runescape-dev |archive-date=30 October 2018 |url-status=live}} In April 2016, Codemasters announced that they had hired most of the staff of racing game developer Evolution Studios after Sony closed the company.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-04-05-evolution-studios-joins-codemasters-hocking-becomes-vp-of-product |title=Evolution Studios joins Codemasters, Hocking becomes VP of product |first=Dan |last=Pearson |date=11 April 2016 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030035841/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-04-05-evolution-studios-joins-codemasters-hocking-becomes-vp-of-product |archive-date=30 October 2018 |url-status=live}}

The first Codemasters title for eighth generation consoles was F1 2015, launched in July 2015. In October 2015 they released Overlord: Fellowship of Evil, their first non-racing game since 2011.

After the disappointing sales of Onrush, several members of the Codemasters EVO development division were made redundant and the division was shifted to a support role for other titles.{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-07-23-layoffs-onrush-developer-evolution-driveclub-director-rushy-let-go |title=Layoffs at OnRush dev Evo, Driveclub director Rushy let go |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=23 July 2018 |website=Eurogamer |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327135514/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-07-23-layoffs-onrush-developer-evolution-driveclub-director-rushy-let-go |archive-date=27 March 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=15 February 2019}}

Codemasters held an initial public offering to list the company on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market on 1 June 2018. The company's shares were valued at 260 pence during trading bringing in a total of {{GBP|185 million}}. As a result of the IPO, Reliance Entertainment held a 29.5% stake in Codemasters.{{cite news |title=Anil Ambani's Reliance Group raises Rs 14 bn by listing Codemasters on AIM |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/anil-ambani-s-reliance-group-raises-rs-14-bn-by-listing-codemasters-on-aim-118060101547_1.html |website=Business Standard India |access-date=28 January 2019 |date=1 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128094447/https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/anil-ambani-s-reliance-group-raises-rs-14-bn-by-listing-codemasters-on-aim-118060101547_1.html |archive-date=28 January 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Reliance Group's gaming firm Codemasters lists on LSE's AIM platform - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/reliance-groups-gaming-firm-codemasters-lists-on-lses-aim-platform/articleshow/64416112.cms |website=The Times of India |date=June 2018 |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218140836/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/reliance-groups-gaming-firm-codemasters-lists-on-lses-aim-platform/articleshow/64416112.cms |url-status=live}}

Through placings in June and November 2019, Codemasters welcomed new institutional shareholders to the register whilst providing Reliance with a highly satisfactory exit and thus ending their nine-year relationship with them.{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Jon |date=19 November 2019 |title=Entertainment giant sells remaining stake in Codemasters |url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/entertainment-giant-sells-remaining-stake-in-codemasters |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917205814/https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/entertainment-giant-sells-remaining-stake-in-codemasters |archive-date=17 September 2022 |access-date=30 November 2022 |website=Insider Media Ltd |language=en}}

Codemasters acquired Slightly Mad Studios, the developers of the Project CARS titles, in November 2019 for about {{USD|30 million}}. The acquisition brought the total staff at Codemasters to about 700 people.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/11/28/20987245/codemasters-buys-project-cars-developer-slightly-mad-studios |title=Codemasters acquires Project CARS developer Slightly Mad Studios |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=28 November 2019 |access-date=28 November 2019 |work=Polygon |archive-date=28 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128204540/https://www.polygon.com/2019/11/28/20987245/codemasters-buys-project-cars-developer-slightly-mad-studios |url-status=live}}

The studio acquired the exclusive license to the World Rally Championship series in June 2020 which will begin as a five-year deal in 2023, with plans to release their first game in 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/363979/Codemasters_secures_FIA_World_Rally_Championship_license_from_2023.php |title=Codemasters secures FIA World Rally Championship license from 2023 |first=Chris |last=Kerr |date=1 June 2020 |access-date=1 June 2020 |work=Gamasutra |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610022309/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/363979/Codemasters_secures_FIA_World_Rally_Championship_license_from_2023.php |url-status=live}}

Codemasters announced in November 2020 that it had been approached to be acquired by Take-Two Interactive as a buyoff offer valued at {{GBP|739.2 million}}. Codemasters said its board was ready to approve the deal, pending the required regulatory approvals and Take-Two's own commitment once those approvals were granted.{{cite web |date=6 November 2020 |title=Take-Two to buy British videogame developer Codemasters for $973 mln |url=https://ca.reuters.com/article/ctech-us-codemasters-m-a-take-two-idCAKBN27M2D7-OCATC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106180008/https://ca.reuters.com/article/ctech-us-codemasters-m-a-take-two-idCAKBN27M2D7-OCATC |archive-date=6 November 2020 |access-date=6 November 2020 |work=Reuters}}{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/codemasters-confirms-its-in-talks-with-take-two-over-a-possible-sale/ |title=Codemasters confirms it's in talks with Take-Two over a possible sale |first=Andy |last=Robinson |date=6 November 2020 |access-date=6 November 2020 |work=Video Games Chronicle |archive-date=6 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106163746/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/codemasters-confirms-its-in-talks-with-take-two-over-a-possible-sale/ |url-status=live}} In the same month, both Take-Two and Codemasters agreed to a Take-Two buyout of Codemasters in a stock and cash deal around {{USD|994 million}}, which was expected to be completed by early 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-11-10-gta-publisher-take-two-will-buy-codemasters-for-nearly-usd1bn |title=GTA publisher Take-Two confirms purchase of Codemasters in deal worth nearly $1bn |first=Tom |last=Phillips |date=10 November 2020 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=10 November 2020 |archive-date=10 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110141711/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-11-10-gta-publisher-take-two-will-buy-codemasters-for-nearly-usd1bn |url-status=live}} Following the acquisition, Codemasters would have operated within the 2K label under its existing leadership. In a statement, Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick said that Codemasters' racing games would fit well with its own roster of sports games.{{cite web |last=Barker |first=Sammy |date=10 November 2020 |title=Looks Like Codemasters Will Be Acquired by Take-Two |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2020/11/looks_like_codemasters_will_be_acquired_by_take-two |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110134548/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2020/11/looks_like_codemasters_will_be_acquired_by_take-two |archive-date=10 November 2020 |access-date=2 December 2020 |website=Push Square}} However, Take-Two's bid was subsequently trumped by Electronic Arts in December 2020, which offered to buy all outstanding shares at {{GBP|6.04}} for an offer valued at about {{US$|1.2 billion}}, about 14% higher than Take-Two's offer. Codemasters' board of directors agreed to the EA deal, which closed by the first quarter of 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/14/investing/ea-codemasters/index.html |title=EA snaps up racing game developer Codemasters in $1.2 billion deal |first=Streisand |last=Neto |date=14 December 2020 |access-date=14 December 2020 |work=CNN |archive-date=14 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214144425/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/14/investing/ea-codemasters/index.html |url-status=live}} Take-Two formally withdrew its offer in January 2021, ceding to EA's bid,{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-01-13-take-two-withdraws-bid-for-codemasters-following-ea-offer-of-usd1-2bn |title=Take-Two withdraws bid for Codemasters following EA offer of $1.2bn |date=13 January 2021 |access-date=13 January 2021 |work=GamesIndustry.biz |archive-date=13 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113123917/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-01-13-take-two-withdraws-bid-for-codemasters-following-ea-offer-of-usd1-2bn |url-status=live}} while Codemasters' board signed off on EA's bid later that month.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/376550/Codemasters_directors_vote_in_favor_of_12_billion_EA_acquisition_.php |title=Codemasters' directors vote in favor of $1.2 billion EA acquisition |first=Chris |last=Kerr |date=22 January 2021 |access-date=22 January 2021 |work=Gamasutra |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122150313/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/376550/Codemasters_directors_vote_in_favor_of_12_billion_EA_acquisition_.php |url-status=live}} The acquisition was completed on 18 February 2021, with all shares transferred to Codex Games Limited, a subsidiary of EA.{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ea-has-officially-completed-its-purchase-of-codemasters/ |title=EA has officially completed its purchase of Codemasters |first=Andy |last=Robinson |date=18 February 2021 |website=Video Games Chronicle |access-date=18 February 2021 |archive-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218140837/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ea-has-officially-completed-its-purchase-of-codemasters/ |url-status=live}} EA's Andrew Wilson said they plan to keep Codemasters as a standalone entity within EA similar to Respawn Entertainment.{{cite web |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/1-2-billion-is-a-big-number-but-we-think-its-a-great-opportunity-to-bring-two-great-companies-together-the-inside-track-on-eas-acquisition-of-codemasters/ |title="$1.2 billion is a big number. But we think it's a great opportunity to bring two great companies together" – The inside track on EA's acquisition of Codemasters |first=Seth |last=Barton |date=18 May 2021 |accessdate=18 May 2021 |work=MCVUK}} Codemasters announced in July 2021 that CEO Frank Sagnier and CFO Rashid Varachia will depart the company at the end of the month, as part of the EA acquisition plan. Special vice president of product development Clive Moody and of publishing Jonathan Bunney will take over leadership of Codemasters following this.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-07-06-frank-sagnier-and-rashid-varachia-step-down-from-codemasters |title=Frank Sagnier and Rashid Varachia step down from Codemasters |first=Danielle |last=Partis |date=6 July 2021 |accessdate=6 July 2021 |work=GamesIndustry.biz}}

In May 2022, EA merged Codemasters subsidiary Codemasters Cheshire into Criterion Games, an existing subsidiary of EA, as to support effort on the Need for Speed series as the two companies were already working together on a new title in the series together for months, then later that year in October, announcing a new title called Need for Speed Unbound,{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-merges-criterion-and-codemasters-cheshire-to-work-on-need-for-speed |title=EA merges Criterion and Codemasters Cheshire to work on Need For Speed |first=Ishraq |last=Subhan |date=12 May 2022 |accessdate=12 May 2022 |work=Eurogamer}} which was released on 2 December 2022.

In December 2023, an unknown number of employees at Codemasters were laid off by EA.{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=2023-12-04 |title=F1 Developer Codemasters Suffers Round of Layoffs |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/f1-developer-codemasters-suffers-round-of-layoffs |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=January 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120153015/https://www.ign.com/articles/f1-developer-codemasters-suffers-round-of-layoffs |url-status=live }}

Ego is a modified version of the Neon game engine that was used in Colin McRae: Dirt and was developed by Codemasters and Sony Computer Entertainment using Sony Computer Entertainment's PhyreEngine cross-platform graphics engine.{{cite web |last=Leadbetter |first=Richard |date=28 August 2009 |title=DiRT 2 demo: PS3/Xbox 360 performance showdown |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-dirt2-demo-showdown-blog-entry |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130203134/https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-dirt2-demo-showdown-blog-entry |archive-date=2022-11-30 |access-date=15 August 2010 |website=Eurogamer}} The Ego engine was developed to render more detailed damage and physics as well as render large-scale environments.{{cite web |date=6 December 2007 |title=Codemasters® revs in-house game engine, reveals new name: EGO™ Game Technology Engine. |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/codemasters-revs-in-house-game-engine-reveals-new-name-ego-game-technology-engine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703174100/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/codemasters-revs-in-house-game-engine-reveals-new-name-ego-game-technology-engine |archive-date=2022-07-03 |access-date=27 October 2017 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}{{Cite news |last=Leadbetter |first=Richard |date=December 12, 2009 |title=DiRT 2: EGO Evolution - Digital Foundry talks McRae tech with Codemasters CTO Bryan Marshall |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-dirt2-ego-evolution-article |access-date=}}

{{Main|List of Codemasters video games}}

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