Rugby World Cup

A series of officially licensed rugby union video games based on the quadrennial Rugby World Cup tournament.

Sports

Games

1994–2015

Years

Platforms

$7.51

Ø CIB

+21.2%

24M change

About

The Rugby World Cup video game series began with Rugby World Cup 95, published by EA Sports. Later entries in the franchise include Rugby World Cup 2011 and Rugby World Cup 2015, both developed by HB Studios. These titles allow players to compete in the official tournament with licensed national teams.

The inaugural release, Rugby World Cup 95, debuted on the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System to coincide with the 1995 tournament in South Africa. It utilized an isometric perspective and a modified engine from contemporary soccer titles, establishing the baseline for digital rugby representation.

Following a multi-tournament gap in dedicated branding, Rugby World Cup 2011 launched on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Published by 505 Games, this iteration introduced high-definition graphics, online multiplayer matchmaking, and a focus on tactical set-pieces. It attempted to capture the atmosphere of the New Zealand tournament despite lacking licenses for several major participating nations.

The subsequent release, Rugby World Cup 2015, expanded the franchise's reach to eighth-generation consoles, including the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, alongside PC and PlayStation Vita. Published by Bigben Interactive, this title struggled critically due to artificial intelligence limitations and software bugs, yet it remained notable for simulating the full pool and knockout stages of the England-hosted event. Together, these releases reflect the evolving landscape of sports simulation licensing over two decades.