► 23 rounds, coming on 1st July
► VR on PC
► New cars, new modes
Formula One heads to Montreal this weekend, and that means new Canadian GP content from the upcoming F1 2022 game. However, rather than the standard track guide, EA has instead released a video showing the new VR capabilities of the game. It’s the first time an F1 game has been available in VR, and should make a huge difference to the levels of immersion gamers will experience – provided they’ve got a decent rig. You can watch the video above. The only catch? It’s PC only.
What’s new?
The cars, for a start. F1 has moved to larger 18-inch wheels, lower profile tyres and more ground-effect reliant cars – so in theory the F1 2022 game should look and feel unlike any previous instalment. You’ll be able to drive the new cars in more places too; with 23 races confirmed so far, 2022 is F1’s busiest year yet – so Creative Director Lee Mather will need to transport players to more locations than ever. There’ll also be sprint races; just like the 2022 season.
Adaptive AI means the CPU difficulty will adjust according to your finishing result, keeping less experienced players in the fight if they appear to be struggling. If that sounds a little too weak, there’s always a multiplayer mode to pit your wits against the rest of the world.
At the same time however, Codemasters (now under the umbrella of EA) aims to give us a more in-depth look at life as an F1 driver. A new mode called F1 Life aims to give players the chance to ‘flex’ like a real F1 driver, showing off their collection of supercars, clothing and other items unlocked during gameplay.
There’s also a My Team mode, just like last year, where players will be able to manage a team, or a Career mode that now takes place over a decade. Multiplayer will return too.
TV or real-life?
What’s more, players will have two different types of gameplay: Immersion will throw you in the action as a driver more, making behind-the-scenes events like formation laps and safety car periods playable and integral to your finishing position. On the other hand, Broadcast mode is a more polished affair, and only puts you in the driver’s seat when the race begins.
One more thing
F1 2022 will now feature a VR mode on the PC, giving those with an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive the chance for an even more authentic experience.