The “current” season of Formula 1 in a state of disarray, so much that Formula 1’s Managing Director, motorsports, and technical director, Ross Brawn recently stated that the current season, as it stands, could officially start as late as October. It’s hard to say the season has begun at all. Nonetheless, the show must go on and in as unusual circumstances, that has happened. Some of the drivers have jumped onto an E-Prix series (E for “Esport,” not Formula E) within F1 2019. Formula 1’s official YouTube channel is showcasing full races of years gone by and more recent ones too. However, where does this leave the game?

This year was set to see races on the newly molded Vietnamese Hanoi street circuit and the returning shorter Dutch Circuit of Zandvoort. We would also see the return of a banked turn to the Formula. The last being seen when the US GP was held in Indianapolis where in 2004 Ralf Schumacher would go off on the banked turn, smacking the concrete barrier, causing two minor fractures in his spinal column. He would return to the circuit a year later, though following further issues (this time with tires and the turn), the race would only feature six of the twenty possible cars in that race.

My waffling-on has gone on long enough. Yes, there will be a Formula 1 2020 from Codemasters, something to build on the previous year’s game and one of my latest addictions. Announced yesterday morning, Codemasters revealed the 2020 edition of the racing game, celebrating 70 years of the Formula’s history. F1 2020 will be coming to the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, with the addition of Google Stadia to the platforms of choice for players. However, it’s not the only extension to the series this year.

Continuing as it did last year, the game will feature a deluxe edition based around a driver. This year, the man that Ross Brawn guided to a total of seven championships through his storied career and the scarlet-clad villain for many years, Michael Schumacher. The deluxe edition will feature exclusive content, such as Michael’s 1991 Jordan 191 debut from Belgium, his 1994 first championship-winning Benetton B194, as well as his B195 championship-winning Benetton, and rounded off with his famous 2000 scarlet red Ferrari F1-2000. As well as the 70th edition of the game offering a pre-order bonus of “an exclusive set of in-game items.

However, that’s not the important bit. This year will feature a whole new mode to the semi-sim racing series. “My Team” is a new game mode offering players the chance to create and run as the 11th constructor in the championship. This will also feature a new “driver-manager” experience for players. As a huge fan of the WWE SmackDown Vs Raw 2006–2008 run by Yuke’s, I only hope this new game mode is in the same vein. If not, I hope it shows the promise to become something similar to the light Football Manager-style gameplay I and others, look back on with rose-tinted glasses.

A further welcome relief to many would be the three-tiered option for the Career mode. Players will now be able to select an option between the full twenty-two race season (that was planned for this year), a very short and likely ten race season, or a medium-sized sixteen race season. This, of course, offers players the chance to race around the newly added Hanoi and Zandvoort circuits. Players also get the chance to do so not only in the 2020 F1 cars, or Schumacher’s legacy cars, but they will also get to return to the seat of the F2 series as well.

When talking about the game, F1 franchise director at Codemasters, Paul Jeal said, “F1 2020 promises to be our biggest and most innovative title to date.” He would continue with, “Our core players will welcome even greater gameplay depth with the introduction of our brand-new My Team feature, alongside three customizable season lengths which allows them to pick their favorite tracks.” Though there is talk of the My Team feature, there is no word on the depth of the new game mode.

Lee Mether, F1 Game director at Codemasters, would also go on to state, “As huge fans of F1, we continue to innovate and develop game modes that bring players even closer to the real-world sport.” Lee would also go on to talk about a feature that has been surprisingly absent in recent years, “We’ve also added new modes to enable more casual players to get up to speed more easily, and we’ve brought back split-screen for social play with friends. The additions reduce both the difficulty and time barrier to entry while retaining the car handling that our simulation players love.”

Following reviewing the previous game, both written here on the site and a video babbling about it, I’ve continued to play. It seems insignificant but for me to find the time for a game about a thing I’ve said, “I don’t care about too much,” and play for over 120 hours, I have to say I weirdly enjoy it. Now, with possible improvements to ease new players in, a franchise management mode, and of it overall, I know I’m excited to see what’s to come of F1 2020 this year.

Formula 1 2020 will release on July 10th this year, with pre-orders of the Michael Schumacher deluxe edition or 70th Anniversary edition getting players early access three days early.

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