F1 23 is the official video game for Formula 1 and will be released very soon. We have all the information on the new features, game modes and tracks for the racing simulator.
The wait will soon be over as the new F1 23 is about to be released. As usual, F1 23 is developed by Codemasters and published by EA Sports. Will the new game be better than its disappointing predecessor F1 22? We have all the info on the release, the new features and new race tracks in F1 23!
Formula 1 is unfortunately dominated by Red Bull Racing and the reigning world champion Max Verstappen, which is why just about every race turns out to be pretty boring. Red Bull has such a big lead in the development of the new generation of cars that it is already certain before the start of each weekend that Verstappen will win the Grand Prix. Actually, the FIA had hoped for greater equality of opportunity from the regulation changes, but the opposite happened.
Fortunately, things are looking very different online! If you want to experience exciting racing, you should take a closer look at F1 23. Pad drivers in particular can look forward to better gameplay!
F1 23: Release Date And Platforms
F1 23 will be released on June 16, 2023. Those who pre-order the Champions Edition will even get advance access and can play the game in Early Access three days earlier on June 13, 2023. F1 23 will be available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, EA App and the Epic Games Store.
All New Features In F1 23
If you were expecting a big leap forward, you will unfortunately be somewhat disappointed. There aren't as many new features as you might have hoped for after the thoroughly disappointing F1 22. But we tell you quite honestly that we also don't need that much to change, we simply want a fully developed and functioning game. The majority of F1 23 players will join various organized online leagues, and you just want smooth operations, stable lobbies and good gameplay.
Changes To The Gameplay
Speaking of gameplay: EA has announced a "significant upgrade" compared to the predecessors. This refers to the handling, the traction during low speeds and the general driving behavior of the car. Experienced drivers should notice the difference immediately. We are curious about that. The entirety of the car should also feel different when driving over a curb, for example. Codemasters and EA are trying to get as close as possible to reality.
Thanks to feedback from real F1 teams and drivers like Anthony Davidson, players will notice a more balanced relationship between the mechanical grip of the tyres and the aerodynamic grip of the cars.
In addition to the general driving behavior, the developers have also worked on the handling, i.e. new features for the steering wheel and controller. We are particularly excited about these new features.
Precision Drive
The controller has always been inferior to the steering wheel. Depending on the track, it costs several tenths of a second per lap to drive around the circuit with the controller instead of a steering wheel. That's about to change, because F1 23 introduces precision drive.
Pad drivers should now get a detailed feeling for the car and its steering movements. So now, you should be able to correct snap oversteer, even while already steering.
Whether your driving style is more smooth and fluid or more aggressive, you'll feel much more confident on any track and in those crucial wheel-to-wheel battles.
New Race Distance
Codemasters and EA are adding a new race distance that has been requested by the community for years. In F1 23 you can now drive 35% races, i.e. 35% of the original race distance. Up to now you could only choose the options 3 laps, 5 laps, 25%, 50% or 100% race. The community thought the gap between the 25% and 50% distances was too large. So now the drivers can also compete at 35%.
Red Flag
The Red Flag celebrates its return after nine years! Why Codemasters and EA are only now bringing this feature back remains a mystery, but at least it's there now. In real life Formula 1, practice sessions, qualifying sessions and races are often interrupted by the red flag. Reasons for this are damage on or off the track, such as to the barriers, or if there has been a violent accident whose remains need to be cleaned up. The red flag then stops the race and all cars have to return to the pits.
As in real sport, you can adjust your race strategy, put on new tyres and repair some damage to your car before the race resumes. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the red flags in the menu to your liking.
Any gaps that existed before will be erased. Afterwards, there is usually a standing re-start. This gives you and your team completely new tactical possibilities. Even a race that seemed lost suddenly becomes exciting again. A cool feature!
Two New Tracks: Las Vegas And Lusail
F1 23 also includes the release of two new race tracks: Las Vegas (USA) and Lusail (Qatar). Both tracks are in the race calendar of the current F1 season.
EA writes about Las Vegas, the newest street circuit:
The Las Vegas Street Circuit was built from the ground using thousands of reference photos and extensive photogrammetry data to provide an authentic experience even before the track is raced in the real world.
When you look at the layout of the track, you'll probably also think to yourself: how boring is that? But yes, what can you do, Formula 1 has created a huge hype in the US since the successful Netflix series "Drive To Survive". F1 makes three guest appearances in the United States (Miami, Austin and Las Vegas).
Qatar has hosted Formula 1 many times before, so it's all the more strange that the Grand Prix is only now added to the game:
For the Losail International Circuit, FOM's official computer-aided design was combined with aerial imagery from the ArcGIS World Atlas, elevation data and photogrammetry data of the track to create the most accurate representation of the circuit.
The heritage tracks that did not make it into the F1 calendar will be added to the game as legacy tracks. These would be Circuit Paul Ricard (France), the Shanghai International Circuit (China) and the Algarve International Circuit (Portimão/Portugal).
Breaking Point 2
Breaking Point celebrates its continuation in F1 23. The mode was first playable in F1 21 and was a nice (if short) pastime. It's certainly a good mode for beginners to get to grips with the game. But that's all it is, there are good cutscenes, but driving online is much more fun.
In addition to the new game mode, there are also various smaller changes, such as to the ranking system or the safety level.
These are all the big changes for F1 23. On EarlyGame we will also keep you up to date with tips and tricks on F1 23 gameplay.