OpFlash, GRID 2 and DiRT 3 mapped out

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 9 November, 2010

Release windows revealed.

The next Operation Flashpoint game, Red River, will be released at some point between 1st April and the end of June 2011, Eurogamer can exclusively reveal.

"I don't think it does any good to publish in a congested period when everyone's putting out their shooters," Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens told Eurogamer.

"A number of leading companies have their fiscal year ends around that time, and so they'll be firing heavyweights in terms of their product releases to give as much boost to their fiscal year end as they possibly can.

"That's not a window I want to go out in. It will be between 1st April and the end of June."

Rally game DiRT 3 will be released in the same window, Cousens revealed.

"What we're not going to do is do more of the same with each rendition of the game," Cousens promised. "There is a lot more to it.

"Let's put it into context. It's from probably the finest racing studio in the world. It's between us and the Need for Speed guys, and I would argue we're better."

The next game in the Race Driver: GRID series will be released in 2012.

"We're not difficult to predict," Cousens said. "If DiRT comes out next year, GRID will come out the following year, and then DiRT will be out the year after that. So you can map us out.

"Sitting alongside that will be F1 every year. Flashpoint we'll do every other year. The idea is to come up with a new IP that sits in opposite years to each other, but we're in the racing segment and the action segment.

"So you can pretty much lay out my business plan for the next five years."

Codemasters' new IP for 2011 is Codemasters Guildford's Bodycount, due out early summer.

Codemasters has already teased a "massive" title that utilises version 2.0 of the EGO engine. Will it be 2012's new IP?

"Could well be," Cousens replied.

"There's still a lot being planned. It's something big and something is happening, but your thought process is right."

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (19) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Haloboy #1 2 years ago

    OpFlash need not apply.

    Dirt 3 and Grid 2 should be frikkin amazing though!

  • ruslan74 #2 2 years ago

    Good news. Hope they do not soften up OpFlash for the casual masses as its pretty ruthless as it is.

  • FourS33N #3 2 years ago

    Opflash = win. also GRID But really hope dirt is rally and not xgamesamericanoveradvertisedcrap.

  • NimbusTLD #4 2 years ago

    Umm, which Need for Speed guys? You mean Criterion, the NEW Need for Speed guys right?

    /cue whining by Forza and Gran Turismo fans

  • rojjer #5 2 years ago

    Op flash... the jury's out on that one I'm afraid. Got it on console and got burned by CM dropping development on it relatively early on in the game's life-span. They did the same with Grid if I remember, offering DLC with more to come that never came. hopefully this business model has been revamped!

    As a side note, please can you work to get rid of that stupid 'must stay inside the circle or you'll die' in co-op missions? Its very restrictive. (Op flash)

  • Haloboy #6 2 years ago

    I take it those who negged me didn't play Dragon Rising then?

  • slickster #7 2 years ago

    operation flashpoint was a hard game i thought. ive never got around to completing it

  • Antaios #8 2 years ago

    GRID 2, I want it. I've never played an arcade-y racer I had so much fun with.

  • BraveArse #9 2 years ago

    After buying F1 on launch day I can safely say that my "purchase model" for future codies releases is wait until it's patched and buy for £20. I did that with Dirt 2 and actually had fun with it for quite a long time, despite it's overly Extreme tone.

    @MrMarc - me too, the closest I've ever come to TOCA was Race Pro - I miss racing round Knockhill :(
    Edited by BraveArse at 09/11/10 @ 11:41

  • tachometer #10 2 years ago

    I love to buy codies games 3 months after release when they're £17.99 and fully patched

  • hoster #11 2 years ago

    ""I don't think it does any good to publish in a congested period when everyone's putting out their shooters," Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens told Eurogamer."

    Didn't they release OF:DR at the same time as MW2?

  • JensonJet #12 2 years ago

    "Let's put it into context. It's from probably the finest racing studio in the world. It's between us and the Need for Speed guys, and I would argue we're better."

    Personally I'd say Turn 10 and Polyphony produce better racing games than Codemasters! I sincerely hope Operation Flashpoint fails after the issues, problems, and outright dishonesty regarding features of the first game.

  • metalangel #13 2 years ago

    ArmA2 > "Operation Flashpoint"

  • CosmicGypsy #14 2 years ago

    @JensonJet

    I'd say all codies current gen titles are better than GT5 Prologue which was soulless. I'd also say they are better than GT4 (though it was epic in its day). I couldn't say Polyphony make better games since they don't actually make games. they develop games sure, but until they put something in a box you are basing that statement on the wonderful view you have through the rose tinted spectacles of your youth.
    Edited by CosmicGypsy at 09/11/10 @ 15:28

  • superdelphinus #15 2 years ago

    Turn 10/ polyphony make better car porn type games, but f1 2010 is a terrific 'racing' game when it's behaving itself

  • Tricky2050 #16 2 years ago

    +1 Missing TOCA

    But Grid was a damn fine game, looking forward to the sequel. Although Dirt 2 was American to the max it was still pretty fun but I'll be happy when they take it back to its roots.

    Maybe they can release one of these that isnt broken at launch for once.

  • ODB_Mongoose #17 2 years ago

    Weew they are still trying to kill OFP for a second time after it died two years ago...
    Move on, codies, OFP is dead beyond repair.

    My god that game was so bad - recall this bragging of this Lenton guy about "immersive biggest most awesome milsim ever"....wow this was some consumer rip off...first stealing the name from the team who built the true OFP and then screw the whole mil shooter community...they even deleted hundreds of threads on their forum to prevent total PR disaster...just outrageous they still have the guts to bring out a new episode...

    Never.....ever....ever.....am OFP product again!
    Edited by ODB_Mongoose at 09/11/10 @ 16:06

  • peppergomez #18 2 years ago

    OFP out on April Fool's Day? Sounds about right.

  • GitSomE_UK #19 2 years ago

    Sorry Codemaster you fucked me good and proper with OpFlashpoint.... no support, buggy as fuck after all that hype think I'm going to believe that again?... Nope!

    Dirt 3.... Bring it! I've always enjoyed Dirt so looking forward to it.

    Grid... Whut?? Never played it.