F1 23 release date announced with Braking Point sequel confirmed

F1 23 launches June 16, Codemasters and EA Sports announced on Wednesday, and the Formula 1 racing simulation will indeed bring back a narrative mode, plus several courses that aren’t on this year’s F1 calendar but have been recent fan favorites.

The second Braking Point chapter, which was already shown on Friday, is the one that grabs most of the attention. Devon Butler is the villain in F1 2021’s narrative mode debut, returns as the top driver for the fictional Konnersport Racing; so does Aiden Jackson, the younger of two playable drivers from the first chapter (teammate Casper Akkerman, who goaded Butler into wiping him out at Abu Dhabi to end the season, has retired).

The “classic” tracks are familiar to any fan who has played the game over the past three or four years: Circuit Paul Ricard in France, Shanghai International Circuit (China) and Portimão (Algarve International Circuit, Portugal). Wednesday’s announcement said those three were confirmed “for launch,” suggesting that others may be added in later.

F1 23 will also debut two new tracks — Qatar’s Lusail International Circuit and the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, corresponding to the grands prix running there in October and November respectively. At launch, 26 different courses will be offered.

In terms of gameplay additions and improvements, a news release spotlighted new controller technology to give gamepad players “better control and confidence in those crucial race moments.” Races may now be set for 33% of their real-life distance (previous settings had been full, half, quarter, or five laps), further broadening accessibility to a growing audience.

The company also claims to have gathered reams upon reams worth of data directly from F1 teams in order to develop a more realistic handling model, both aerodynamically and with regard tire grip. “Engine torque and inertia improvements also mean throttle control is more authentic and offers a greater level of connection to the car,” Codemasters said.

I can tell you from personal experience that driving with a controller without traction control, or brake assist, was nearly impossible, and this is true even for an Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller. Perhaps this new technology combined with the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller will enable experienced drivers to disable more assist features (and achieve faster lap times).

F1 23 Arrives on June 16, for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 as well as Windows PC through the EA Launcher, Epic Games Store and Steam, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Windows PC using Steam, Epic Games Store and EA Launcher. There will be two editions, the standard edition as well as a Champions Edition that is only available digitally. This edition offers a ton of in-game items and extra content.