Video game publisher EA Sports has announced that it will not release an official Formula 1 game in 2026, opting instead to update the current F1 25 title with a paid content update.
It is not the first time that EA subsidiary Codemasters has scaled back an F1 game before moving on to its successor. In 2015, the first title released on eighth-generation consoles was released earlier than previous titles, and with limited features (such as career mode, which returned in 2016), but a title was still released.
Next year will mark the first time since Codemasters (which was bought by the US company in 2021) hasn’t produced a full annual game since 2009, when it launched F1 2009 on Nintendo Wii and Sony’s PSP.
F1 25, which launched on May 30 this year for Xbox Series
The company also says the move is part of a “multi-year strategic investment in the EA Sports F1 franchise, with support from both Formula 1 management and the F1 teams.”
“F1 25 has been an incredible success, fueled by the passion of fans and the energy of the sport,” said Lee Mather, senior creative director at Codemasters. “With Formula 1’s momentum on and off the track, this is the perfect time for us to look ahead and build for the future. We are fully committed to the EA Sports F1 franchise. Our multi-year plan extends this year’s excitement through 2026 and reimagines the F1 experience for 2027.”
Real world F1 will undergo massive changes next year with new engine and aerodynamic regulations, as well as the addition of Cadillac to the field and Sauber turning into Audi. The 2026 expansion will – despite these major changes – be priced lower than a full game, although F1 25 will still be required to play it.
It’s a similar move to what the publisher has done with Formula 2 since F1 2019, with the previous year’s field being represented in the game at launch and the current field being added later, albeit as a free update.
While EA has come under fire over the years for its tendency to expand its games with microtransactions and paid features, the move will likely be a welcome one for gamers who often criticize sports game publishers for annually releasing completely new titles that offer little change from the previous version.
Details, including a release date and pricing for the F1 25 2026 update, will be revealed later.
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