F1 22

F1 22
Next gen cover art featuring from left to right: McLaren's Lando Norris, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Mercedes' George Russell.
Developer(s)Codemasters
Publisher(s)EA Sports
Composer(s)Ian Livingstone
Ethan Livingstone
Miktek
Rory Hay
Brian Tyler
SeriesF1
EngineEGO Engine 4.0[citation needed]
Platform(s)
Release1 July 2022[a]
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

F1 22 is a racing video game developed by Codemasters and published by EA Sports. It is the fifteenth entry in the F1 series by Codemasters. The game holds an official licence of the 2022 Formula One and Formula 2 championships. The game was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on 1 July. It also made its debut on EA's Origin platform as their main platform, which is also playable in the EA Desktop app, as well as the Epic Games Store. In previous entries, Steam was the only platform available for PC players. The game was delisted in March 2024 following the announcement of the forthcoming F1 24.[1]

The game received mostly positive reviews from critics, with most user criticism aimed at the lack of innovation compared to previous titles and the new "F1 Life" mode, as well as the revised in-game vehicle handling model which caused controversy over its new traction system, linked to the real-life regulation change Formula 1 saw for the 2022 season.

Gameplay

Due to new technical regulations for the 2022 Formula One World Championship, F1 22 features new car models with updated physics.[2] The game also features an updated track list, including the revised layouts of Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Albert Park Circuit for the Australian Grand Prix, as well as adding the new Miami International Autodrome for the new Miami Grand Prix.[3] The Algarve International Circuit, home of the Portuguese Grand Prix, along with the Shanghai International Circuit, hosting the Chinese Grand Prix, was subsequently added to the game with an update.[4]

Formula One sprints, a new addition to the sport, are also included in the game.[5] F1 22 features adaptive AI, which would adjust the pace of AI cars according to the performance of players to ensure players are competitive from race-to-race. The game also introduces a customisable hub mode called F1 Life to allow players to collect supercars, clothing and accessories.[6] The game is also confirmed to support virtual reality for PC via Oculus Rift, or HTC Vive, virtual reality headsets.[7] F1 22 also features immersive broadcast options, based on televised Formula One broadcasts, as well as interactive pit stops.[8]

EA and Codemasters also added Supercars to Formula One with "Pirelli Hot Laps", which is accessible through the new "F1 Life" mode, as well as a licensed soundtrack in the main menu. Furthermore, an option to choose either David Croft from Sky Sports or Alex Jacques from Channel 4 as the main English commentator for F1 races is also added.

In a post-launch update, F1 22 features the 2023 Alfa Romeo C43.[9]

Development and release

F1 22 was revealed in April 2022, with both Codemasters and EA Sports returning to work on the game.[10] It is an official video game of the 2022 Formula One and Formula 2 championships,[11] alongside F1 Manager 2022 of Frontier Developments.[12] The game was launched on 1 July, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S platforms via Steam, Epic Games Store and Origin, which is on the weekend of the 2022 British Grand Prix.[13] The Champions Edition of the game was released three days earlier, on 28 June.[14]

Reception

F1 22 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[15][16][17]

Eurogamer praised Codemasters' implementation of simulation elements such as dynamic weather and wrote in favor of their exclusion of porpoising but called the game "overly familiar" and "overly bloated", writing that "there's a feeling 2022's regulations have introduced as many problems as they have fixed, and that the positive impact of the new ruleset will not really be seen for some years to come".[18] GameSpot praised the increased level of player agency, host of assist settings, and the authentic recreation of the new era of Formula One but criticized the lack of iteration, hollow F1 Life mode, and the inclusion of microtransactions.[19] IGN liked the inclusion of the Formula One sprint race format, virtual reality support, and the game's rejuvenation of the franchise's stagnating elements but panned the "vapid" F1 Life mode's replacement of the predecessors' Braking Point mode and the game's monetization.[22] PC Gamer praised the inclusion of real-world standings updates, sprint races, the skill tree system, damage models, and wealth of player choice but criticized the aging graphics, inconsistent AI, console controls, and lackluster addition of super cars, while noting that "the annual release has not felt this unnecessary since F1 2014".[24]

PCGamesN found itself "dulled to [F1 22's] charms" and lamented the "cumulative fatigue of having been through this experience so many times before in previous iterations, and having so little meaningful new content in F1 22 to relieve it".[25] Polygon stated that "F1 22 is not a transformative work, but it did not need to be one — creating new cars, and the organic challenge of learning how to drive them on the limit, was transformation enough".[31] Push Square gave praise to the quality handling, good visuals, deep career modes, novel supercars, and robust customization while criticizing the numerous bugs, crashes, and screen tearing, as well as the aging game engine and insubstantial F1 Life mode.[26] Shacknews lauded the overhauled racetracks, new circuits, remixed audio, new commentary, VR support, and the integration of new regulations and car designs but disliked the "terrible" feel of the supercars, difficult AI, and persistent series issues.[27] The Guardian gave the game a score of 3/5 stars, praising the graphics and the ability to drive this year's cars on this year's tracks, but panned F1 Life as "egregious".[29]

During the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated F1 22 for "Racing Game of the Year".[32]

The game topped in the United Kingdom sales charts.[33]

Notes

  1. ^ The Champions Edition of the game was released on 28 June 2022.

References

  1. ^ Jeffries, Mark (4 March 2024). "F1 22 Has Already Been Delisted". racinggames.gg. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  2. ^ Bliss, Nathan (21 April 2022). "F1 22 release date revealed with updated physics and tracks for EA's new Formula 1 game". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  3. ^ Quinn, Nathan (21 April 2022). "New F1 22 game gets release date, first feature revealed". The Race. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  4. ^ Borthwick, Ben (2 August 2022). "F1 22 gets the Portimao circuit in its latest update". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  5. ^ "EA and Codemasters announce F1 22 release date and brand-new game additions – including F1 Life". Formula One. 21 April 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  6. ^ Wood, Will (21 April 2022). "F1 22 game introduces 'F1 Life' mode, supercars, adaptive AI and PC VR". RaceFans. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  7. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (21 April 2022). "F1 2022 Announced With VR Support, Coming This July". IGN. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  8. ^ Spahic, Amar (31 May 2022). "F1 22 will have pit stop errors". AltChar. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  9. ^ "ALFA ROMEO'S C43 2023 LIVERY ADDED TO F1® 22". 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  10. ^ Harrison-Lord, Thomas (20 April 2022). "The next Formula 1 game, F1 22, will be revealed on 21st April". Traxion.GG. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  11. ^ Romano, Sal (21 April 2022). "F1 22 announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and PC". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  12. ^ Nathan, Quinn (7 March 2022). "New F1 management game revealed with summer". The Race. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  13. ^ Bonthuys, Darryn (21 April 2022). "F1 22 Races Onto PC And Console On July 1". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  14. ^ Ivan, Tom (21 April 2022). "F1 2022 release date, details, trailer and more revealed". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  15. ^ a b "F1 22 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  16. ^ a b "F1 22 for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  17. ^ a b "F1 22 for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  18. ^ a b Robinson, Martin (28 June 2022). "F1 22 review - the best F1 game yet can't quite match last year's model". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  19. ^ a b Barbosa, Alessandro (7 July 2022). "F1 22 Review - Hammer Time". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  20. ^ Wells, Cory (27 June 2022). "Review: F1 22". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  21. ^ Aznar, Rafael (28 June 2022). "Análisis de F1 22, el juego oficial del Mundial de Fórmula 1" [F1 22 Review, the official game of the Formua 1 World Cup]. HobbyConsolas. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  22. ^ a b Reilly, Luke (30 June 2022). "F1 22 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  23. ^ Izokay (27 June 2022). "F1 22: le jeu vidéo de Formule 1 ultime au sommet, comme Verstappen et Leclerc?" [F1 22: the ultimate Formula 1 video game at the top, like Verstappen and Leclerc?]. Jeuxvideo.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  24. ^ a b Towell, Justin (27 June 2022). "F1 22 review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  25. ^ a b Iwaniuk, Phil (27 June 2022). "F1 22 review – buckle up, we're really in the EA era now". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  26. ^ a b Tailby, Stephen (27 June 2022). "F1 22 Review (PS5)". Push Square. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  27. ^ a b Ole Peek, Jan (27 June 2022). "F1 22 review: Elbows out in newly designed race cars". Shacknews. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  28. ^ Dolce, Daniele (27 June 2022). "F1 22 – Recensione" [F1 22 – Review]. The Games Machine. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  29. ^ a b Boxer, Steve (30 June 2022). "F1 22 review – a stunning racing game sullied by money-grubbing". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group plc. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  30. ^ Scullion, Chris (27 June 2022). "Review: F1 22 adds as much as it takes away". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  31. ^ Good, Owen S. (1 July 2022). "Formula 1 pushes reset with new cars, and F1 22 responds beautifully". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  32. ^ "2023 Awards Category Details Racing Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  33. ^ "F1 22 speeds straight to UK number one - Games charts 2 July". Metro. 5 July 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
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