F1 23 release date announced as June 16, Braking Point returns
EA Sports has announced that F1 23 will be released on June 16, 2023, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The next iteration of the annual racing game series will feature the return of a highly requested mode, the Braking Point singleplayer campaign.
Braking Point’s first outing in F1 21 was well-loved among fans of the series and tapped into the drama and vibes of Netflix’ popular Drive to Survive series about Formula 1. The next chapter of the story sees the return of protagonist Aiden Jackson and antagonist Devon Butler – now as teammates for fictional racing team Konnersport.
“The return of Braking Point allows players to immerse themselves in a racing story, which provides a unique look at F1 alongside the authentic race features our players know and love,” said Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director at Codemasters.
There will be technical improvements as well. “Our close relationship with the teams has allowed us to refine our handling model, adding greater realism to pad-play, and implementing a new color encoding system used in film and TV creates a more true-to-life experience,” Mather said.
The handling should make for more predictable behavior and new vehicle physics allow for better traction under braking, accelerating, and cornering. Community feedback has led to the inclusion of 35% race distance, providing a middle-ground option between short and long races.
F1 23 finally introduces red flags, which in real life trigger an interruption to the race. They are one of the most chaotic elements in a F1 race and can open a variety of strategic options.
The race tracks in Las Vegas and Qatar will make their debut at launch alongside all other tracks from the 2023 race calendar. In addition, the circuits at Paul Ricard, Shanghai, and Portimão are all confirmed to be included at launch despite F1 not racing there this year.
F1 World, a new in-game hub, wants to bring players content inspired by the real-world events in F1 as well as unlockable cosmetics.
Those pre-ordering the Champions Edition will have three days early access to the game as well as a bunch of in-game goodies.
