With the approaching start of the Formula One season just around the corner, many fans are eagerly anticipating EA’s next installment in theF1gaming franchise. Following on from the incremental improvements ofF1 22over its predecessor, many are hoping for similar strides to be taken in development this year, as well as the potential implementation of features both new and nostalgic.
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As the sport’s fanbase grows and the gaming series looks to make headway in the eSports community, the spotlight will be firmly set on the series’ summer releaseto see whether it can contend withthe likes ofiRacingor whether it will become another watered-down version of itself once again.
10Immersive Career Mode
One of the most common criticisms of recent titles in the series has been a lack of depth and interactivity in the game’s staple Career Mode. A wider variety of animations, cutscenes, set vistas, and interactive features would spice up an otherwise repetitive and simplistic game mode.
Many features such as this and the agent character used for negotiating contracts in previous iterations (such asF1 17andF1 2014)are highly requested by the core fanbase of the series.
9DLC Tracks
Also highly requested, the ability to play tracks that are not currently on the Formula One calendar seems like a no-brainer for EA, but they have yet to execute on this simple concept. As the real-life circuits become increasingly prioritized in terms of profit rather than tradition, the sport has seen the disappearance of legendary circuits like Hockenheim and La Castellet, in favor of newer circuits in Las Vegas, Miami, and the UAE.
Making these circuits available, especially as DLC, is a good opportunity for the developer to cash in on a highly requested feature.
8Classic Cars
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With the addition of newer tracks, many fans are curious to see how old cars may perform on them, without having to buy and installAssetto CorsaoriRacingto do so.
7Meaningful Off-Track Rewards
The latest entry into theF1franchise saw the introduction of the “F1 Life” feature, which ended up being extremely underwhelming in the eyes of many fans who saw little point in grinding away over multiple seasons to unlock new tiers of the ‘podium pass', only to be rewarded with a new pillow-skin in their “F1 Life” cosmetic room.
Either this areaneeds to be dramatically improvedor scrapped altogether in favor of a different reward system in the podium pass.
6F3 And F4 Tiers
Another way in which a sense of progression can really be projected is through a deepening of the league and roster capacity. The inclusion of the lower-tier F3 and F4 will give players more of a ladder to climb should they wish, as well as lead to more interesting and dynamic career modes and seasons in the long term.
A W-series category could also be provided in order to provide representation for women in the game, who currently see little.
5Better Broadcast Settings
For many streamers, this feature will be a top priority. Often in broadcast modes and viewing replays, the camera has a tendency to miss a lot of the action as shots linger for too long once the cars are out of view.
Giving users a degree of customizability in this department, as is available in the ‘photo mode’, would greatly lend a hand to streamers seeking to provide exciting and watchable highlights from both theirsingle-player and multiplayer experiences.
4Enhanced Multiplayer Experience
For many competitive players, the core element of a game is its multiplayer experience. Complaints of strong lag, difficulty matchmaking, and desynchronization have become something of a commonality amongF1players, who often become frustrated when trying to play with friends and find that this is not facilitated in any way by the game’s UI.
As the series looks to grow its eSports presence, these types of errors will have to be addressed inF1 23.
3Increased Character Customization
Another area that has come under scrutiny from fans is the lack of customization regarding characters in the game. With little ability to customize helmets and only a small range of preset character models to choose from, a greater degree of personalization would again help to improve immersion and inclusivity in the franchise.
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As things stand, there is more of an emphasis on character poses and gesture unlocks than the actual looks of the drivers themselves.
2Smarter AI Decisions
The decision-making of your fellow drivers can often be questionable, to say the least. WhileF1 22saw improvements to the AI’s overall racecraft, leading to more aggression and willingness to overtake, there are still many issues in particular regarding AI behavior under safety cars.
Almost never playing sensible or realistic strategies, the AI can make race-altering decisions that cost them for no apparent reason. This can also be extended to the radio engineers, who sometimes make calls that couldseriously hinder newer players as they bid to win races.
1Deeper R&D options
Research and development can play a huge role in the success of a Formula One team over the course of a season, and the F1 games are no exception. A relatively basic tree of upgrades hasremained unchanged for several yearsnow.
With increasing accessibility to the knowledge and technicalities of engineering and design, there is growing interest among players to customize smaller components of the car while having more variability when it comes to vehicle development.
F1 23is scheduled for release in early July 2023 and should be available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms.
