EA announced F1 25, with a few major updates

“New Year, new me,” they say. However, as usual, it is: New Year, and the same people online complaining about yearly releases being similar while expecting a team stretched thinner than their dad in the back of a Honda Civic to pull out next-generation graphics and new but pitch-perfect mechanics every year. I honestly don’t know what people want from a new Formula 1 game that they haven’t already got with another year’s release already, but EA and Codemasters are back again, and this time with that one guy in the red car.

Teased over the last few days since the Chinese Grand Prix in which Lewis Hamilton (and Charles) got disqualified, F1 25‘s special expensive edition will be called Iconic Edition. Even featuring the only driver Americans could even name before Drive To Survive. Speaking of the more “newbie” friendly stuff to the world of F1 that is dramatized, it is a year with an odd number in it so I guess it is Braking Point part 3 with Konnersport, featuring Callie Mayer, Aiden Jackson, and Devon Butler. If that’s not enough to annoy the “die-hards” then F1 The Movie‘s inclusion won’t help.

The trailer itself does exactly what you expect from a teaser trailer: Lewis is his PR-friendly bland self. It shows him “playing” the game despite the fact he’s stated he prefers the games of the late 90s, smash cut to the game with action shots with commentary over the top teasing both Braking Point and general gameplay, then it shows snippets of the APXGP car at Monza and I think Imola. All of this leads into the “pre-order now!” gubbins. Never do that, or you end up like last year, complaining about it not being exactly what you thought it was.

Most of the details come from press releases of some kind or the Steam page in fact, with more set to be announced sometime in April. Of course, Braking Point is making its return, set to pit Konnersports up against this year’s six rookies and Lewis after his move to Ferrari. However, that’s all we know. The trailer teases that one of the three leads has moved to Red Bull (I hear they need someone after Lawson), with the new Red Bull driver doing a Lewis into Copse by missing the apex and punting a young Callie Mayer into the barrier.

If that’s not your thing, there have been other updates in more central areas to gameplay, which will affect everyone. First up are improvements made to the EGO engine, which is supposed to “[Unlock] increased circuit authenticity made possible through LIDAR technology.” The trouble I have with EA and Codemasters highlighting this is that it will result in nitpickers online saying that bollards and track signage aren’t accurate enough, as they wiz by at 120-200 miles per hour.

The other “major” update is about as detailed as what can be broadcast on F1 TV of Valtteri Bottas’ calendar. The press release on EA’s website notes changes to My Team: “Speaking of My Team, the popular mode receives its biggest overhaul since it was introduced in F1 2020, challenging you to call the shots as the owner of your F1® team. Take on new responsibilities before getting behind the wheel as either of the team’s drivers.”

Senior Creative Director at Codemasters, Lee Mather, said: “F1 25 delivers more ways for players to experience Formula 1 and race their way, from the drama of Braking Point to making headlines in the pursuit of World Championship glory. This year, there are new opportunities for players to connect, collaborate, and compete than ever before. We look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks.”

I love press releases and online storefronts that are as useful as a chocolate teapot. By the sounds of it from the note on Steam, the My Team 2.0 as it is dubbed, will streamline itself allowing you to strip away bits you don’t like and play as either driver on a preferred weekend. That or I’m grossly misreading what seems to be plain language: “The new Owner Perks system [allows] you to specialize in your preferred areas of team Management, then get behind the wheel of either of your 2 F1 drivers on race weekends.”

Set to release just ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix on the 1st of June, F1 25 will be released on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, Epic, and the EA App on the 30th of May. The Standard Edition this year featuring Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz, and the fresh-faced Ollie Bearman, and a pre-order of said edition gets you the game, 5,000 pitcoin, an F1 World Starter pack of 10,000 in-game cash and F1 World Resources, and the F1 75 celebration pack.

Meanwhile, pre-orders of F1 25‘s Iconic Edition features Lewis and get you 18,000 pitcoin; the F1 World Bumper pack featuring 50,000 in-game cash, unique upgrade cards, a 7-day XP Boost, and F1 World resources; the F1 75 Celebration pack, 3 days early access, the Lewis Hamilton Iconic pack, exclusive Lewis Hamilton F1 World event for F1 24, a collection of 2025 liveries for F1 24 time trial mode, F3 Driver icons, and 1 Month of F1 TV Pro Subscription, but only if you’re in the US for that last one. Honestly, if those F3 driver icons don’t include Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, what’s the point?

As noted throughout both the F1 news post, the public press release on EA’s website, and even on Steam, more gameplay details for F1 25 will be revealed in April. There is no word on when in April, but April nonetheless. We’re just over 2 months from the release, which is why I keep saying not to pre-order. However, since some of you are going to, the prices are $59.99 for F1 25‘s Standard Edition, and $79.99 for the Iconic Edition, or their regional equivalents. Now if you don’t mind I’ll go avoid the toxicity of F1 online discourse and enjoy more of those “It must be the water” memes everyone made.