With F1 23 just around the corner, the series' Braking Point story mode is set to make a return when the newest iteration of the official Formula One game is released on June 16th. However, players that want to re-live or check out the first chapter of the mode could be too late if they do not own F1 2021 already - the title has been delisted from the Steam Store.
Image Credit: EA Sports/Codemasters
F1 2021 was the first title of the series after Codemasters had been acquired by EA, and it introduced the story mode centered around youngster Aiden Jackson, who starts his F1 career after winning the Formula 2 title. Racing alongside experienced teammate Casper Akkerman, Jackson faces several challenges, including butting heads with main antagonist Devon Butler.
After F1 2020 has been delisted from the Steam Store in March of 2023 (while the console versions have not been available since May 2022), F1 2021 now follows suit earlier than expected. At the time of writing this article, the game is still available on both the PlayStation and Xbox stores.
With the newest F1 game's release on the horizon in June, the delisting of the 2021 version is likely meant to drive sales towards the newer entries into the series. The practice is not new - previous F1 games cannot be bought on Steam or the console stores anymore, either. As a result, collectors should either rely on physical copies if available or pull the trigger on a purchase sooner rather than later - otherwise, they might miss out.
Image Credit: EA Sports/Codemasters
F1 2021 was the first title of the series after Codemasters had been acquired by EA, and it introduced the story mode centered around youngster Aiden Jackson, who starts his F1 career after winning the Formula 2 title. Racing alongside experienced teammate Casper Akkerman, Jackson faces several challenges, including butting heads with main antagonist Devon Butler.
After F1 2020 has been delisted from the Steam Store in March of 2023 (while the console versions have not been available since May 2022), F1 2021 now follows suit earlier than expected. At the time of writing this article, the game is still available on both the PlayStation and Xbox stores.
Ways to Still Play F1 2021
That does not necessarily mean that the game is not playable at all anymore: Online keys can still be purchased from other platforms like Amazon, and Steam allows for valid codes to be redeemed even after a game has been delisted. For consoles, the route of physical copies is a good way to circumvent the delisting - but be aware that DLC will not be available anymore once the game itself cannot be purchased online anymore.With the newest F1 game's release on the horizon in June, the delisting of the 2021 version is likely meant to drive sales towards the newer entries into the series. The practice is not new - previous F1 games cannot be bought on Steam or the console stores anymore, either. As a result, collectors should either rely on physical copies if available or pull the trigger on a purchase sooner rather than later - otherwise, they might miss out.