Codemasters and EA have announced F1 2021, the latest in the long-running franchise of gaming simulators adapting the format and vehicles from the globe-trotting sport. F1 2021 is launching on July 16, with three days early access for those who preorder.
F1 2021 will be doubling-down on a narrative-focused single-player mode, something which the series has lightly dabbled with in previous entries. Called Braking Point, the mode will see you rise through the ranks as a new Formula 2 racer to eventually take a seat at one of the ten teams in Formula 1. Codemasters says that Braking Point will give you more to do off the track as well as on it, as it seeks to replicate the many pressures Formula 1 racers juggle during race weekends.
Another new addition is two-player support in F1 2021’s returning Career Mode, letting you and a friend fight it out or work together across synchronous races with any one of the ten supported F1 teams. Each player will be able to tune driver assists according to their desired level, while a consistently updated roster will let you dive into career mode with up-to-date driver and constructor standings from the current F1 season.
F1 2021 will also include three new tracks: Portimão in Portugal, Imola in Italy, and the debut of the new Jeddah street track in Saudia Arabia. Returning features include two-player split-screen support, options for shorter seasons across both F2 and F1 calendars, My Team mode, esports integration, and more. F1 2021 will also be the first game in the series to natively support PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but will also launch on PC, Xbox One, and PS4. Newer consoles will benefit from improved visuals and faster loading times, Codemasters says.
The future of Codemasters F1 series was in question following its purchase by EA earlier this year. EA at the time stated that it intends to let Codemasters continue producing the racing titles its known for, with the recent slate of F1 titles being some of the developer’s best in recent years.
