F1 2016 - Available Summer 2016

[Trace17]

Release dates (always subject to change):
UK: August 19
Europe: August 19
US: maybe the same as above, or maybe not

http://blog.codemasters.com/f1/05/introducing-f1-2016/

In the run up to this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, we’re extremely proud to announce F1™ 2016, the official videogame of the 2016 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™ to the world.

F1 2016 will include the most immersive career mode we’ve ever featured, and will release onto PlayStation®4, Xbox One and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam) this summer.

F1 2016’s new career mode spans 10 seasons and will take you deeper into the world’s most glamorous, exciting and prestigious motorsport, both on and off the track. The life-like recreation of the sport will be further enhanced by the addition of the sport’s iconic Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car, which have been written from the ground up, as well as the introduction of the challenging new street circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan for the 2016 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE.



Here’s what Principal Game Designer Lee Mather said-

“F1 2016 is a massive step forward for the franchise. The new career mode sits at the heart of the game and allows gamers to create their own legend over a career that can span for up to a massive ten seasons. Beyond improving upon the fastest and most thrilling on-track racing experience in gaming, F1 2016 uniquely offers the drama and vehicle development that goes on behind the scenes. A rich car upgrade system is fully integrated into a new and deep practice development programme which mirrors the tests carried out by the teams in real life.”



For the first time, the practice development programme allows you to take advantage of the tests done by the teams on a grand prix weekend. Master each circuit with our track acclimatisation tests, test your tyres and hone your race strategy to perfection, all whilst gaining valuable Research and Development points to spend on upgrading your car.

Mather continued: “With the re-introduction of the Safety Car as well as the addition of the Virtual Safety Car for the very first time, we are creating the most complete F1™ experience ever. This, combined with several features that are yet to be announced, should excite fans of the game and FORMULA ONE™.”

In the new career mode, you’ll be able to select an avatar to represent you within the game world, as well as choose a number to take with you through your career. You’ll be able to single out the helmet for you, and colour it however you choose. You’re then free to choose from any of the FORMULA ONE teams, all with different goals and expectations. You might decide to go down the more challenging route and start further down the grid, but it will also be easier to exceed your team’s expectations. You can earn contracts and move from team to team, or choose to develop your favourite team into a championship contender.

To complement the on-track experience, and to expand the realism of the Career mode, we’ve included stunning hospitality areas for each team that will act as your game hub. In this area you’ll work with our new, fully captured and voice-acted Research and Development Engineer and Player Agent to develop your progress both on and off the track. Earn Research and Development credits from all your sessions, from practice, to qualifying and the race, to spend on upgrading your car, and get ahead of the teams around you. To make it even more immersive, you’ll also be able to spot other key figures from the paddock within the hospitality areas.



This season’s already been an exciting one, and what could make it more so than the latest addition to the FORMULA ONE calendar, Azerbaijan, with capital city Baku playing host to what could very well be the fastest street circuit of the season.





We’ve also got some early screenshots for you to show off our new time of day editor, which allows you to dramatically customise the visuals of your race experience. The brand-new Haas F1 Team makes their debut in the 2016 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, and in the process become the first all-American-led F1 team in three decades.



We’ll be releasing further details very soon, so follow us on Twitter and Facebook for future updates.

Oh, and here’s our brand new boxart. What do you think?

[Trace17]

I thought the driving model in 2015 was a good improvement but obviously the game is missing some features so in theory 2016 should improve on that groundwork.

What most are curious about is the time settings, allowing a daytime Singapore and Bahrain race.

"We’ve also got some early screenshots for you to show off our new time of day editor, which allows you to dramatically customise the visuals of your race experience."

It looks like there's a screenshot of daytime Singapore, but many were curious if there's limitations that will prevent night races on some tracks since they don't have any adequate lighting in real life. So perhaps the time editor will just be morning/afternoon/sunset for some instances. If this is playable at E3 maybe we'll find out more there.

And as to the summer release, September is still technically Summer so don't expect this in the next 60 days lol

[Zivouhr]

Thanks. It's interesting they release a new Formula 1 game each year almost. Are the updates mostly about new career mode/drivers/team sponsors/car tech updates, or are the games significantly improved in camera angles, options, graphics, realism, gameplay, etc? I'm guessing the changes aren't as big as they suggest.

I'm a fan of F1 racing, so I'm interested in this news.

[Trace17]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Thanks. It's interesting they release a new Formula 1 game each year almost. Are the updates mostly about new career mode/drivers/team sponsors/car tech updates, or are the games significantly improved in camera angles, options, graphics, realism, gameplay, etc? I'm guessing the changes aren't as big as they suggest.

I'm a fan of F1 racing, so I'm interested in this news.

Some years have provided big changes, it depends on the iteration. 2010-2012 games were most improvements on gameplay and how it handled, with each iteration adding a bit more in graphics (and some new tracks, such as Austin).

2013 added an entire new dlc add-ons with "classic" mode with cars from the 70s and onward, with different camera filters and old school UI.

2014 then ditched the classic mode stuff, and was mostly regarded as being phoned in if I recall (they were probably prepping next-gen development, and the classic modes were a big dissapointment with how they were handled as dlc and not a part of the core game)

However, 2015 stripped away a few features in the name of graphical improvements on the new systems, and it had cars/drivers for both 2014/2015 seasons. Review mostly said it went back to a foundation to later be built upon with this generation (it cut career mode, season challenge, rival system, online co-op, champions mode, split screen, functional safety car, motorhome etc. Read more here.

Codemasters' games for the past several years have had highs and lows, but in theory 2016 should be an improvement with more experience on the new engine and less time building the game for new consoles and instead improving it. But we won't know for sure until it's released.

I've been playing 2015 on PS4 corresponding with actual race weekends and the driving model is quite a bit different, the cars feel much heavier than they have in the past. I have never tried online or anything though in this most recent version so I can't testify to any of that.

If you want to read more about our thoughts on past iterations, here's links to the previous threads (couldn't find 2014)

F1 2010 (PS3)

F1 2011 (PS3)

F1 2012 (PS3)

F1 2013 (PS3)

F1 2015 (PS4)

[Mavrick]

Haven't played an F1 game in a very long time. I really fell out of love with them, the changes each year just weren't enough to justify full price each year.

[Blu Lemmy]

I'm happy that this has bought back the career mode, good times. However, I won't drop full price for this, £20 bargain bin when I have a lull in games

[Mavrick]

E3 2016 - F1 2016 direct feed gameplay 1/3 - YouTube

[Trace17]

Lap around Baku:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL2Hg4223xw

Also, the blog has said the release date has been set for Friday, August 19 but something tells me that's a European/UK date. I haven't been able to find anything that suggests a US date is the same, so I think in traditional Codemasters terrible publisher fashion, we won't find out here in the US until it's on the shelf.

http://blog.codemasters.com/f1/06/f1...-release-date/

[ArmyOfDarknessAW]

I'm pretty excited for this. I am a huge racing fan so these games are always on my list each year.

[Hayabusa85]

Really enjoying it so far but also enjoyed 2015 so that was to be expected One of my biggest problems with it last year was the screen tearing on certain tracks which sadly returns and even worse Baku seems to be even worse than Monaco for it. So that is the only big disappointment for me. Was also hoping the manual starts would be a bit more complex. But they are just the basic hold clutch and release starts that have been common in motocross games for years now.

Online actually works at launch this time so that is a plus too Had one really good online race where we were almost side by side heading to the final turn. He had the better line and beat me by a nose but at some point picked up a penalty so the result screen was a nice surprise Surprisingly I have won 5 out of 8 online races and been on the podium in all 8. This is coming from somebody that has yet to pick up a single win in 2015 pathetically so not sure why I am getting better results in 2016 but will enjoy it while it lasts

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by Hayabusa85

Really enjoying it so far but also enjoyed 2015 so that was to be expected One of my biggest problems with it last year was the screen tearing on certain tracks which sadly returns and even worse Baku seems to be even worse than Monaco for it. So that is the only big disappointment for me. Was also hoping the manual starts would be a bit more complex. But they are just the basic hold clutch and release starts that have been common in motocross games for years now.

Online actually works at launch this time so that is a plus too Had one really good online race where we were almost side by side heading to the final turn. He had the better line and beat me by a nose but at some point picked up a penalty so the result screen was a nice surprise Surprisingly I have won 5 out of 8 online races and been on the podium in all 8. This is coming from somebody that has yet to pick up a single win in 2015 pathetically so not sure why I am getting better results in 2016 but will enjoy it while it lasts

Thanks for the details.