F1 23 launching on June 16, Codemasters and EA Sports announced on Wednesday, and the Formula 1 racing simulation will indeed bring back a narrative mode, plus several courses that haven’t been on the F1 calendar this year but have been recent fan favourites.
In terms of major back-of-the-box features, the second chapter of Braking Point, which was already previewed on Friday, is drawing the most attention. Devon Butler, the villain from F1 2021‘s debut story mode returns as the best driver for the fictional Konnersport Racing; so is Aiden Jackson, the younger of two playable drivers from the first chapter (teammate Casper Akkerman, who pushed Butler to wipe him out in Abu Dhabi to finish the season, has retired). The Braking Point sequel looks like it will deliver a mix of live action and pre-rendered cutscenes, with real drivers (even Max Verstappen!) taking part.
The “classic” circuits are familiar to any fan who has played the game for the last three or four years: Circuit Paul Ricard in France, Shanghai International Circuit (China) and Portimão (Algarve International Circuit, Portugal). Wednesday’s announcement said those three had been confirmed “before launch,” suggesting others could be added later.
F1 23 will also make its debut at two new circuits: the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar and the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, corresponding to the Grands Prix taking place there in October and November respectively. There are a total of 26 courses available at launch.
In terms of gameplay additions and improvements, a press release highlighted new controller technology to give gamepad players “better control and confidence in those crucial racing moments”. Races can now be set for 33% of their real distance (previous settings were full, half, quarter or five laps), further increasing accessibility for a growing audience. And yes, for fans who have long been asking, red flag interruptions and restarts will be part of this year’s game for the first time.
Codemasters also says it has pulled masses of data from the F1 teams themselves to create a driving behavior model that is more true to life in terms of aerodynamics and tire grip. “Engine torque and inertia improvements also mean the throttle is more authentic and offers a greater degree of connection to the car,” said Codemasters.
Speaking from experience, driving on a gamepad with no traction control or brake assist engaged was nearly impossible due to the throttle input, even on an Xbox Elite Series 2 controller. So maybe this, plus the new gamepad tech, will allow veteran controller drivers to crank out more assists (and aim for faster lap times).
F1 23 arrives June 16 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5; Windows PC via the EA launcher, Epic Games Store and Steam; Xbox One and Xbox Series X. Two editions will be available, a Standard Edition and a Champions Edition which is digital only and offers a lot of extra in-game content and make-up items.