EA SPORTS F1 24 will see updated Spa and Silverstone tracks, a new driver-focused career, real-world team radio clips and new suspension systems when it releases next month.
The reveal trailer has just dropped for this year’s official Formula 1 driving game. After the announcement of its existence, then the game cover art, the first video footage showcases gameplay and some new features for this year's derivation.
Here are five key details we spotted as we await further information ahead of its May release.
Electronic Arts loves to invent a name for new or updated features. It cannot just be ‘better gamepad controls’, so for in F1 23 this was labelled with the ‘Precision Drive’ moniker.
This time, based upon this trailer, we expect the label ‘Precision Track Updates’ to simply mean tracks that are no longer three years out of date. Yes, making sure Spa is more accurate than a blindfolded drawing of the track is now a ‘feature’.
The dereliction of most established circuits has been bordering on unacceptable for several years now. But we can see the new – well, two-year-old - grandstand at Raidillon, at last. The track updates also include updated kerbing and run-off in Qatar, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit and a reworked Silverstone.
If these updates extend to venues such as the Hungaroring, is yet to be confirmed, but only four circuits are mentioned in the pre-release information.
We have seen with the two recent F1 Manager games by Frontier Developments extensive use of real-world audio clips. They add authenticity to proceedings, albeit in a somewhat ephemeral way once they start repeating.
A similar system is now on the way to the F1 driving games by Codemasters.
In past releases, you could unlock race victory radio calls through the Podium Pass, but these were voiced by actors.
Listen carefully in the trailer, through the Green Day soundtrack, and you can hear Valtteri Bottas shouting “aha, yes!”, Esteban Ocon lamenting a retirement and we end with Max Verstappen thanking his team after yet another win.
Also of note, F1 broadcaster and former racing driver Naomi Schiff not only briefly appears on camera near the start of the video, but her voice is also used in tandem with existing in-game English-language commentators – perhaps she has a greater presence this time, as part of "a new broadcast presentation package and cutscenes."
Alongside the team radio use, is it just us or are the driver’s faces featured throughout? Like, more than usual?
Just look at Verstappen here, it’s uncanny, a recreation that reminds us of an EA SPORTS FC character model.
If the detail has been enhanced, maybe we won’t skip the podium celebration cut scene. Well, at least once...
A potentially more significant feature than 'enhanced face detail' is a career mode that is labelled all-new.
Sadly, there is a lack of footage, or even screens, at this point, but for the first time, you can select an existing real-world driver to progress with. The option of creating yourself remains, should you choose.
Completing on-track objectives helps earn 'driver reputation', which in turn can influence R&D paths. There's also a new mode called 'Challenge Career' where community voting can reportedly influence a series of bite-size season challenges.
The new handling system is, on paper, welcome. After the limp physics in F1 22, things improved with F1 23. With no details or hands-on impressions to go with, though, the verdict shall wait until we’ve tried it.
For now, EA states that the suspension kinematics are all-new, the tyre model has been revised and the simulation of aerodynamics is deeper. Car setup options are also set to be expanded.
F1 World was introduced as a tentpole feature in F1 23, but its mishmash of F1 Mobile Racing-inspired resource management, cards, points, XP and stickers was not the engaging career mode replacement we were hoping for. It returns for 2024, but if there have been any notable changes remains unclear.
My Team returns, as we know that the pre-order bonus Icons are 1976 world champion James Hunt and seven-time grand prix winner Juan-Pablo Montoya. But again, it's unclear if any updates, similar to the driver career, are to be implemented.
Other small elements in the trailer include F1 game content creators now firmly embedded in the marketing and promotion of the game – spot, MaximeMXM, Tiametmarduk and Thom Brouwer aka THOMB.
The game is also, to our eyes, running the existing Ego game engine and not Unreal or Frostbite as used by some EA stablemates, just for the avoidance of doubt.
More information about F1 24 will be released over the coming weeks - what would you like to hear more about? Let us know in the comments below, or on X: @OverTake_gg.
The reveal trailer has just dropped for this year’s official Formula 1 driving game. After the announcement of its existence, then the game cover art, the first video footage showcases gameplay and some new features for this year's derivation.
Here are five key details we spotted as we await further information ahead of its May release.
'Precision' Track Updates
Electronic Arts loves to invent a name for new or updated features. It cannot just be ‘better gamepad controls’, so for in F1 23 this was labelled with the ‘Precision Drive’ moniker.
This time, based upon this trailer, we expect the label ‘Precision Track Updates’ to simply mean tracks that are no longer three years out of date. Yes, making sure Spa is more accurate than a blindfolded drawing of the track is now a ‘feature’.
The dereliction of most established circuits has been bordering on unacceptable for several years now. But we can see the new – well, two-year-old - grandstand at Raidillon, at last. The track updates also include updated kerbing and run-off in Qatar, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit and a reworked Silverstone.
If these updates extend to venues such as the Hungaroring, is yet to be confirmed, but only four circuits are mentioned in the pre-release information.
Team Radio
We have seen with the two recent F1 Manager games by Frontier Developments extensive use of real-world audio clips. They add authenticity to proceedings, albeit in a somewhat ephemeral way once they start repeating.
A similar system is now on the way to the F1 driving games by Codemasters.
In past releases, you could unlock race victory radio calls through the Podium Pass, but these were voiced by actors.
Listen carefully in the trailer, through the Green Day soundtrack, and you can hear Valtteri Bottas shouting “aha, yes!”, Esteban Ocon lamenting a retirement and we end with Max Verstappen thanking his team after yet another win.
Also of note, F1 broadcaster and former racing driver Naomi Schiff not only briefly appears on camera near the start of the video, but her voice is also used in tandem with existing in-game English-language commentators – perhaps she has a greater presence this time, as part of "a new broadcast presentation package and cutscenes."
Better Faces
Alongside the team radio use, is it just us or are the driver’s faces featured throughout? Like, more than usual?
Just look at Verstappen here, it’s uncanny, a recreation that reminds us of an EA SPORTS FC character model.
If the detail has been enhanced, maybe we won’t skip the podium celebration cut scene. Well, at least once...
'All New' Career Mode
A potentially more significant feature than 'enhanced face detail' is a career mode that is labelled all-new.
Sadly, there is a lack of footage, or even screens, at this point, but for the first time, you can select an existing real-world driver to progress with. The option of creating yourself remains, should you choose.
Completing on-track objectives helps earn 'driver reputation', which in turn can influence R&D paths. There's also a new mode called 'Challenge Career' where community voting can reportedly influence a series of bite-size season challenges.
Updated Handling
The new handling system is, on paper, welcome. After the limp physics in F1 22, things improved with F1 23. With no details or hands-on impressions to go with, though, the verdict shall wait until we’ve tried it.
For now, EA states that the suspension kinematics are all-new, the tyre model has been revised and the simulation of aerodynamics is deeper. Car setup options are also set to be expanded.
What’s Not Been Shown
F1 World was introduced as a tentpole feature in F1 23, but its mishmash of F1 Mobile Racing-inspired resource management, cards, points, XP and stickers was not the engaging career mode replacement we were hoping for. It returns for 2024, but if there have been any notable changes remains unclear.
My Team returns, as we know that the pre-order bonus Icons are 1976 world champion James Hunt and seven-time grand prix winner Juan-Pablo Montoya. But again, it's unclear if any updates, similar to the driver career, are to be implemented.
Other small elements in the trailer include F1 game content creators now firmly embedded in the marketing and promotion of the game – spot, MaximeMXM, Tiametmarduk and Thom Brouwer aka THOMB.
The game is also, to our eyes, running the existing Ego game engine and not Unreal or Frostbite as used by some EA stablemates, just for the avoidance of doubt.
More information about F1 24 will be released over the coming weeks - what would you like to hear more about? Let us know in the comments below, or on X: @OverTake_gg.
