Code-masters has confirmed that it currently has no non-racing games in production and no plans for any more in the foreseeable future. ‘Racing is our DNA, it is our heritage, it is our specialisation and it is our absolute focus going forward,’ said Codemasters’ Rich Eddy in comments to trade website MCV.

‘We have kept our reputation for delivering best-in-class racing games, and best-in-class racing games is now our razor focus going forward,’ added Eddy. ‘In racing, we are No.2 in Europe and that’s not good enough. We want to take racing games across multiple platforms and genres. So that players can play anytime, anywhere and on any device.’

To underline all this a new brand called Codemasters Racing has been created, as well as a new online hub named Codemasters Racenet. Racenet will be free to use and allow fans to keep a single driver profile for all Codemasters’ future racing games, as well as offering ongoing prize tournaments.

The first game to be released under the Codemasters Racing label will be DiRT Showdown, which is due for launch on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on May 25. A demo will be released on May 1, although be warned that the game is aimed squarely at the American market and is not the more European-focused DiRT 4 that it’s bound to be mistaken for.

Although Codemasters has always been well known for its racing its always dabbled in other genres as well. In fact it’s surprising to hear they’re abandoning their successful International Cricket titles, although perhaps that series at least will have a reprieve, as it’s not released every year.

Action games such as Operation Flashpoint: Red River and Bodycount are definitely out though, in fact the sales failure of both titles is no doubt the reason Codemasters are narrowing their focus in the first place.