F1 23, the latest Formula 1 game from EA Sports and Codemasters, is here, with fans looking for additions after some were left somewhat underwhelmed by the 2022 edition.
With the on-track action somewhat lacking in excitement in 2023, fans will be hoping that EA have made changes and steps forward in the '23 game to compensate.
There's a whole host of new features this year, as well as a complete overhaul of the physics system of the game, and we gained early access to test them all out, and give you the lowdown on what to expect from F1 23.
With plenty to unpack, the bottom line is this: F1 23 marks a big step forward for EA Sports.
F1 23 game review: Big steps forward for EA Sports
F1 23: Braking Point 2
The headline feature of F1 23 is the return of the 'Braking Point' story mode, which first debuted in F1 2021.
The Braking Point story mode in F1 23 (Photo: EA Sports)
The same three central characters who made up the game in 2021 have returned, with Aiden Jackson and Devon Butler now teammates, and veteran Casper Akkerman now retired and making his move into working as a team principal.
There are big additions, however, with new characters. Callie Mayer, an up-and-comer, has just become the first woman to win the F2 championship, and has eyes on progressing to Formula 1. Jackson and Butler are teamed up at a new, 11th Formula One team, owned by Butler's father Davidoff, and you can interact with team personnel and make decisions on the commercial and technical operations of Konnersport.
New character Davidoff Butler in F1 23 (Photo: EA Sports)
All-in-all, it's a huge upgrade on what the game mode offered in its first guise. It feels far more fleshed out, there is more intrigue with the addition of extra characters, and you will get plenty of play time out of this mode.
The race scenarios you are placed in also offer a new challenge compared to those from 2021. Quaintly, the F2 segments are almost more challenging than the F1 segments, with lots of places to be made up in a less grippy car.
'Braking Point 2' won't be for everyone but, if story modes are your thing, it will be a smash hit.
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F1 World
'F1 World' is probably the most fundamental change to the operation of the F1 series. It sees a complete rejig of how the game is organised, with online multiplayer, single race mode, time trial, and social play all grouped into the same area - somewhat akin to how the "quick play" mode is arranged on EA's football game FIFA.
The menu layout takes a little bit of getting used to, but once you get your head wrapped around it, it's actually a neat enough way of laying everything out.
The new 'F1 World' game mode (Photo: EA Sports)
Those who weren't taken by 'F1 Life' last year are unlikely to find too much of note in the social aspects of 'F1 World,' though the opportunity to gain upgrades to your personalised F1 23 car through strong performances in races is a nice addition. Elsewhere, the single player quick race mode and online multiplayer are largely unchanged - though crossplay is now enabled in ranked races.
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Safety cars and red flags
One of the biggest additions to F1 23 is the return of red flags to the official F1 game after a ten-year absence. Given how they have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, the potential for a red flag to entirely shake up your race is a fun new strategic element.
One frustrating change is that, with the addition of 35% race distances to the game, safety cars are no longer an option for 25% races. That being said...
35% race distance
The 35% race distance is near perfect. If you're like this author and enjoy a long race, but often find yourself strapped for time, these races are absolutely perfect. They take in and around 30 minutes to complete (taking a dry race with no safety cars or red flags as a sample), and require a unique strategic approach compared to 25% or 50% races.
Gameplay from F1 23 (Photo: EA Sports)
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General handling model
This is perhaps the area in which EA's F1 23 takes the biggest step forward - especially if you are a controller user, rather than a racing wheel.
The handling model is challenging, but in a more rewarding way than in F1 22. Where this game's predecessor felt slow to drive, yet with unrealistically fast lap times, this year's game nails the opposite balance - it feels satisfyingly fast to drive, while challenging those who will want to challenge the very best lap times.
Understeer mid corner feels like the biggest threat in this year's game, while the threat of oversteering aggressively into a spin after running over kerbs has thankfully been lessened to a more realistic level this year.
Race starts have changed dramatically, meaning that players can really put the foot down at the start - perhaps almost too much - while the DRS/slipstream is extremely powerful on this year's game (especially if you're in Max Verstappen's Red Bull).
The biggest change this player noticed was the new design of the controller handling model. Special care has been given to the controller in this year's model, with the option for players to personalise their force feedback settings, and a more natural feel to driving the car. This is a change that players have been crying out for for almost half a decade, and its execution is very satisfying, on early feeling at least.
New tracks
There are two new tracks on F1 23 - the Las Vegas Street Circuit, and the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.
Having tested out both, we can report that the Las Vegas track is...meh. The execution in game is excellent - and it is visually stunning - but there is very little to set it apart from the street circuits that have come to dominate F1 in recent years. The section from the end of the back straight through turn two is fun, but the rest of the track is quite tedious at points, and we don't see ourselves spending a huge amount of time on the track, no matter how well it has been recreated.
The Las Vegas Circuit in F1 23 (Photo: EA Sports)
The Qatar circuit, on the other hand, is very fun to drive. There is barely a corner on the track taken lower than fifth gear, and it flows brilliantly in a high speed layout. Racing on the track could be the biggest issue, but in terms of driving experience it ranks highly.
Overall assessment
F1 23 marks a big step up from EA's first attempt at a Formula One game after taking over Codemasters, and adds new depth to popular game modes. All the old favourites are still there - My Team, multiplayer, career mode, and more - with added depth with the addition of new layers in 'Braking Point 2,' 'F1 World,' and the new circuits.
There are a few glitches, such as misplaced commentary, but these are largely minor compared to the enjoyability of the new handling model, and the play time that racers will get from the new game modes.
All things considered, F1 23 marks a major victory for the Formula One game series, and ranks alongside the very best of this series.
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