Codemasters and EA – which recently acquired the UK-based developer – have announced the release date for the latest edition of the Formula 1 console game, F1 2021.
The 2021 edition will be released on July 16 and will feature a brand-new story mode, expanded career mode with two-player option, three new circuits – Portimão, Imola, and Jeddah – as well as all new drivers and cars.
It’s the first F1 game to be published by EA Sports and will be available worldwide on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
In Braking Point, the brand-new story mode, players take on an epic journey, as they rise from the ranks of Formula 2 to a shot at stardom in the world of Formula 1. It immerses players into the glamorous world of F1, giving a taste of the lifestyle both on and off the track: the rivalries, emotion and dedication needed to compete at the highest level. It also re-introduces players to the much-maligned Devon Butler, who makes his return having debuted in F1 2019.
F1 2021 also expands its iconic Career mode with a new two-player option that allows friends to join online and play co-operatively or choose different teams and take rivalries to the track in synchronous race sessions. Each driver has complete control over their assists, allowing players of all levels to come together and compete. Career mode also introduces Real-Season Start, enabling players to begin at any point in the season with real-time driver and constructor standings.
Across all formats, returning features include driver-manager experience My Team, two-player split-screen, shorter season options for both F1 and F2, esports integration and accessible menus and handling. For the first time, F1 2021 comes to Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, boasting a visual uplift and faster loading times.
“Braking Point is an exciting innovation that has been years in the making. We are proud to expand the game experience and allow players to live the highs and lows of life in Formula 1 both on and off the track,” said Lee Mather, Franchise Game Director at Codemasters. “Braking Point transforms the game and puts players centre stage in the greatest racing spectacle on the planet.”
“We are creating more choice and new ways to play. Real-Season Start allows players to align their career to the F1 season,” said Paul Jeal, F1 Senior Franchise Director at Codemasters. “The addition of two-player Career brings new challenges to the iconic game mode. Players can now choose to play co-operatively and share in the success or compete and strive for personal glory.”
The writer is incorrect to say that this is EA’s first Formula One game. I owned one of the earlier ones, F1 2002, on Playstation 2, and it was dire; utterly dire. It was so poor, in fact, that it wasn’t until two console generations later with F1 2017 on XBox One S that I took the chance on spending a chunk of money on another. The Codemasters version was so good that the following year I bought F1 2018 for my PS4. I probably won’t buy another until I have either a PS5 or XBox Series X (which won’t be until some point after the release of either Gran Turismo 7 or Forza Motorsport 8), though since the EA takeover I have been thinking it may be a wise move to grab this year’s game, which will have been largely done prior to the buyout, before EA have an opportunity to burst the game’s tyres, so to speak. One can only hope that EA stay out of it and allow Codemasters to continue their work unhindered, but that is very rarely the result when takeovers happen.