Full Throttle For The Start Of The F1 Esports Pro Series 2018

September 20th, 2018 by Isher Dhillon

Formula 1®, the pinnacle of motorsport, is revving up for the launch of the F1 Esports Pro Series 2018, where the official F1 Esports teams will battle it out to be named this year’s F1 Esports Series Teams’ and Drivers’ World Champions on Codemasters’ F1 2018 videogame.

The Pro Series will be held as a series of three live events at London’s Gfinity Esports Arena on October 10th, October 31st and the Grand Finale across November 16th and 17th. The events will be streamed live on Facebook and broadcast globally on selected TV networks, bringing the excitement and exhilaration of Formula 1 to a new generation of fans across the globe.

Having undergone an intensive selection process, the drivers will race for nine of the teams competing in the 2018 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™: Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports, Red Bull Racing Esports Team, Hype Energy eForce India F1 Esports Team, Williams Esports, Renault Sport Team Vitality, Haas F1 Esports Team, McLaren Shadow, Toro Rosso Esports Team and Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 eSports Team.

The Pro Series is the exciting climax of the award-winning F1 Esports Series, which has seen 66,000 players compete over four online qualifying rounds earlier in the year to secure a coveted place in the inaugural F1 Esports Pro Draft in July. Completing 1.1 million laps in F1 2017, the official game of the FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™ on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and PC.

Just 16 of the most talented gamers from nine countries secured places on the official F1 teams at the Pro Draft in July, which reached over 1 million people around the world. They will now race alongside established racers for a coveted prize fund of $200,000, allocated to the teams based on their positions in the team standings. You can catch up on all the action behind the inaugural Pro Draft on YouTube.

The teams and drivers, confirmed so far, that will go head to head and compete in this year’s Pro Series are:

Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 eSports Team
Allert van der Wal (Netherlands), Sonuc Saltunc (Great Britain), Salih Saltunc (Great Britain)

Haas F1 Esports Team
Martin Stefanko (Czech Republic), Michal Smidl (Czech Republic)

Williams Esports
Tino Naukkarinen (Finland), Alvaro Carreton (Spain), Alex Hanses (Germany)

As global momentum builds behind Esports, F1 also welcomed footwear and lifestyle brand New Balance as the Title Sponsor of this year’s F1 Esports Series. New Balance will provide footwear for the drivers, while F1 also retains its existing sponsors DHL and Fanatec.The F1 Esports Series is operated in partnership with Codemasters, the developer and publisher of the official Formula 1 video game franchise and Gfinity, one of the world’s leading esports companies.

Julian Tan, Head of Digital Growth & F1 Esports at Formula 1 said:
“The launch of the Pro Series is a pivotal moment for the F1 Esports Series. In a short space of time the drivers have come together from all around the world to join their official F1 teams; and will now take their passion for motorsport and gaming from home all the way to the podium. With the F1 teams involved we have been able to combine the power of Esports with the magic of Formula 1, establishing an adrenaline fuelled series that has been streamed across the globe. Now it’s time for the teams to deliver their best performances, and we can’t wait to crown this year’s Teams’ and Drivers’ Champions.”

Jonathan Bunney, VP Publishing at Codemasters said:
“We’ve been impressed with the skill and dedication shown by our player community with F1 2018 across PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC. The Pro Series takes gaming talent to a new benchmark and is set to make history for F1 and gaming fans alike.”

Mark Brittain, Chief Commercial Officer at Gfinity said:
“It is a privilege to welcome some of the very best gamers in the world to the Gfinity Esports Arena for the F1 Esports Pro Series. We’re braced to see a competition quite unlike any other as our hugely talented drivers battle it out head-to-head to be named this year’s F1 Esports champion. For aspiring gamers watching around the world, the event is sure to be nothing short of exciting.”

For more information on the F1 Esports Series visit www.f1esports.com.

F1® 2018 Takes Top Step On The Podium

September 6th, 2018 by Isher Dhillon

Official F1® Game Charts At Number One In UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Nordics, Benelux, Australia & New Zealand

Codemasters has today announced that F1® 2018, the official videogame of the 2018 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, has topped sales charts around the world. The new game, released on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam) on 24th August, has been number one in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Denmark and Finland!

F1® 2018 was released to great critical acclaim as the game continues to get closer than ever to the real world sport. Players now face pressurised press interviews as part of their Career and each team has its own unique research and development options with inherent strengths and weaknesses. There are also more classic cars than ever before, including the iconic Brawn BGP-001 from 2009.

Jonathan Bunney, VP Publishing for Codemasters said: “We are delighted with the success of F1® 2018. It reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone at Codemasters, and growing interest in the world’s most popular motorsport. The first week chart positions were strong and the latest data available shows that we have held the number one position in at least two of our biggest territories, UK and Germany. We look forward to hearing the news from all the others. The F1® Esports Pro Series, which includes the real world F1® teams for the first time, will be played on F1® 2018 and this will be an incredible showcase for the game.”

Featuring all of the official teams, cars, the drivers and circuits from the thrilling 2018 season, F1® 2018 also includes 20 iconic, classic cars from the history of the sport for players to try to master. Circuit Paul Ricard is included in the game for the first time, while the Hockenheimring also returns. F1® 2018 is available now worldwide on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam).

Follow Codemasters F1® games blog and social channels on Twitter and Facebook for future updates.

Make Headlines In F1® 2018 – Out Now

August 24th, 2018 by Isher Dhillon

Deeper Career Mode, 20 Classic Cars, Enhanced Simulation And Improved Visuals Make F1® 2018 A Must Buy For F1® Fans.

Players around the world can now ‘Make Headlines’ in the world’s most prestigious motorsport as F1® 2018, the official videogame of the 2018 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, launches onto the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam) today. To celebrate the launch, Codemasters has also released the F1® 2018 TV advert, which is available to view now at www.youtube.com/formula1game.

Launched to critical acclaim, F1® 2018 is the most complete F1® experience ever seen in gaming. Featuring all of the official teams, cars, the drivers and circuits from the thrilling 2018 season, F1® 2018 also includes 20 iconic, classic cars from the history of the sport for players to try to master. Circuit Paul Ricard is included in the game for the first time, while the Hockenheimring, the historic home of the FORMULA 1 EMIRATES GROSSER PREIS VON DEUTSCHLAND 2018, also returns.

“Our main aim with F1® 2018 was to get even closer to replicating the real world sport and we believe that we have made significant improvements both on and off the track,” said Lee Mather, Game Director, F1® 2018. “The in-game suspension and chassis now refresh at 1000htz meaning that the simulation is far more authentic. For example, you can really feel the difference between the modern day cars, with their advanced aerodynamics and downforce, when compared to the classics which rely more so on pure tyre grip, making them an incredibly involving drive.”

Lee continued: “The visual recreation of the sport, including the iconic heat haze, atmospherics and new lighting system, is closer than ever and we have added even more depth to the Career by reworking the Research & Development system for each of the teams as well as introducing the press interviews which will play a key role in how you are seen within the world of F1®. Certain teams look for different characteristics in a driver and it is up to you whether you choose to exhibit sportsmanship or showmanship when put under pressure. We cannot wait for players to get their hands on the game.”

The much heralded Career mode is bigger and better than ever with the inclusion of pressurised press interviews which will directly affect your standing and future within your own team and the wider sport. While in research and development, each of the teams now has its own unique tech tree with inherent strengths and weaknesses as you are looking to improve your car. These improvements can then be threatened by end of season regulation changes, another first for the franchise.

F1® 2018 is available now worldwide on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam).

Follow Codemasters F1® games blog and social channels on Twitter and Facebook for future updates.

F1® 2018 – closer to the real thing than ever before

August 20th, 2018 by Christina McGrath

Codemasters® has today released the final part in its series of four developer diaries for F1® 2018, the official videogame of the 2018 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, talking about the improvements made to audio and visual aspects of the game. The new developer diary is available to view now at www.youtube.com/formula1game.

F1® 2018 presents a significant visual jump forward for the franchise, utilising physically based rendering to improve the overall look and feel of the game and get it as close to reality as possible. Visually the car models, character renders, the atmospherics, visual effects, cinematics and animations have all been overhauled, while on the audio front the engine sounds are closer to real life than ever before.

“The biggest win visually is in the atmospherics,” said F1® 2018’s Art Director, Stuart Campbell. “This year we’ve got a full atmospherics system that gives you a greater sense of depth from the scene, and it makes for some really stunning vistas.”

Stuart continued: “One of the most iconic things for me about F1® as a sport is seeing that heat haze on the start straight: the heat rising from the track and from the engine exhausts, and in the mirage effect that you see reflecting in the track. We’ve added a full heat haze and mirage system to our visual effects for this year, and it makes a huge difference in the replay cameras and on track when you’re racing.”

With regards the audio improvements this year, Brad Porter, Senior Audio Designer on F1® 2018, commented: “We try to make the engine sounds as close to broadcast as possible, which is what a lot of fans ask for. We’ve been over to tracks such as Abu Dhabi, Barcelona and Paul Ricard over the last year, working directly with F1® teams, going into garages with them on test sessions, mic’ing up the cars onboard with our new radio gear, and then we’re standing at the side of the track for external recordings. We’re also in the garages recording ambisonics, we’re out in the paddock, and we’re out in the pit lane.” Brad added: “From an audio point of view, the game is now sounding far more believable and far more authentic.”

F1® 2018 features all the official teams, the drivers and all 21 circuits of the thrilling 2018 season, including Circuit Paul Ricard and the Hockenheimring. As well as the current season’s offerings the game includes 20 iconic cars from the history of the sport. F1® 2018 will release onto PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam) worldwide on Friday 24th August 2018.

Follow Codemasters F1® games blog and social channels on Twitter and Facebook for future updates.

Excitement Builds For F1® 2018

August 16th, 2018 by Isher Dhillon

See F1® 2018 In Action In New Gameplay Trailer

As the excitement builds towards the launch of F1® 2018, the official videogame of the 2018 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, Codemasters has today released the latest trailer for the game featuring amazing gameplay and cinematics.

Available to watch now below or at www.youtube.com/formula1game, the new trailer showcases the lifelike recreation of the real world sport that you will be able to enjoy on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam) worldwide from Friday 24th August 2018, the weekend of the season starting back up again with the iconic FORMULA 1 2018 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX™.

“We are trying to get as close to the real world sport as possible in terms of visuals, simulation and the surroundings which make F1® such an incredible spectacle,” commented F1® 2018 Game Director, Lee Mather. “We have an excellent relationship with F1® and the teams which is really bearing fruit and helping to improve the game in all areas.”

F1® 2018 features all the official teams, the drivers and all 21 circuits of the thrilling 2018 season, including the introduction of Circuit Paul Ricard and the return of the Hockenheimring. The game challenges you to Make Headlines in the most complete Career Mode ever seen in the franchise including press interviews, extensive research and development options and significant end of season rule changes. F1® 2018 also features 20 classic F1® cars, the most in the franchise’s history.

Follow Codemasters F1® games blog and social channels on Twitter and Facebook for future updates.

Get Closer To The Real World Sport With F1® 2018 Trailer

August 13th, 2018 by Isher Dhillon

New Trailer Set To Official F1® Theme Music Showcases Stunning Visuals

Codemasters® has today released the second official gameplay trailer for F1® 2018, the official videogame of the 2018 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™. Featuring stunning in-game footage and the new official F1® theme music, written by composer Brian Tyler, the latest trailer is available to watch now below or at www.youtube.com/formula1game.

Commenting on the game’s recreation of the real world sport, F1® 2018’s Art Director, Stu Campbell said: “F1® has undergone a huge visual rebrand this year. It has an exciting, fresh new look and we are looking to bring that into the game as much as we can. Our aim this year was to create as big a visual improvement as we possibly could to give a more authentic and realistic experience. When you see it side by side with the 2017 game I think you will see a huge leap forward.”

F1® 2018 features all the official teams, the drivers and all 21 circuits of the thrilling 2018 season, including Circuit Paul Ricard and the Hockenheimring. As well as the current season’s offerings the game includes 20 iconic cars from the history of the sport. F1® 2018 will release onto PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam) worldwide on Friday 24th August 2018.

Follow Codemasters F1® games blog and social channels on Twitter and Facebook for future updates.

F1® 2018 – More Than Just A Game

August 9th, 2018 by Isher Dhillon

Latest Developer Diary Focuses On The Most Authentic F1 Car Simulation yet

Codemasters® has today released the third part in a series of developer diaries for F1® 2018, the official videogame of the 2018 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, detailing how the new game boasts the most authentic F1® car handling simulation ever seen in the franchise.

The third of the four part series, which is available to watch now below or at www.youtube.com/formula1game, reveals that F1® 2018’s car simulation and handling has significantly advanced this year, with revamped suspension and chassis physics, the addition of real world F1® data for unprecedented accuracy, new “tyre carcass” temperature for the first time, as well as manual deployment of the ERS system. The ultimate result of these enhancements is that the gamer can experience the pure sensation of the tyres tearing into the track surface, and therefore giving a realistic and relatable feeling of grip, under all wear, compounds and weather conditions.

“I believe F1® 2018 is a massive step up, because we’ve introduced so many more simulation aspects that I believe will be very well received by all the players,” commented David Greco, Senior Car Handling Designer on F1® 2018. “To choose which one is the most important and advanced is quite hard, but I would probably say it is the expanded system which enables us to simulate the tyre temperature more realistically than we have ever done before.”

He continued: “This year, the way the car feels, with the ‘Force Feedback’, and how it all works together, we are very close to what I want from a simulator. In over 20 years of my career between sim racing and real motorsport, I have always come across questions like: ‘one title is more simulator than another title, because it’s very difficult to drive?’ With my real motorsport experience, I can say that real racing cars are made to have a lot of grip. To me, a simulator is not how easy it is to drive or how easy to make it spin. To me, a simulation is how many real-life, physical components we simulate, and especially this year, there are not many features that I can think of that we don’t simulate. To just call it a game to me is not enough anymore.”

F1® 2018 features all the official teams, the drivers and all 21 circuits of the thrilling 2018 season, including Circuit Paul Ricard and the Hockenheimring. As well as the current season’s offerings the game includes 20 iconic cars from the history of the sport. F1® 2018 will release onto PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam) worldwide on Friday 24th August 2018.

Follow Codemasters F1® games blog and social channels on Twitter and Facebook for future updates.

Make Headlines In F1® 2018

July 31st, 2018 by Isher Dhillon

First Official Gameplay Trailer Showcases Stunning Visuals, New Features And Game Depth

Codemasters® has today released the first full gameplay video for F1® 2018, the official videogame of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship™, which reveals the incredible depth and feature set of this year’s game. Launching onto PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam) worldwide on Friday 24th August 2018, F1® 2018 lets you live the life of an F1® driver like never before.

Featuring the most in-depth career mode ever seen in the franchise, 20 classic cars from the history of the sport, and new stunning visuals, F1® 2018 takes F1® gaming to the next level. The new trailer is available to view now at www.youtube.com/formula1game. Alternatively, you can watch the trailer below;

“This is the most complete F1® experience that Codemasters has ever created,” said Game Director, Lee Mather. “The Career mode is the central point of the game and has been greatly expanded with the inclusion of pressurised press interviews that will directly affect your path through the sport. There is also far more flexibility for the player, including the ability to select your own rival and negotiate team moves during the season. The Career mode also expands the player’s research and development options, with each F1® team now having its own unique technology tree with differing strengths and weaknesses. What’s more, F1® 2018’s Career will also feature significant rule changes between seasons during the Career for the first time.

“The game’s handling has also been reworked using real world F1® data to give us new suspension and chassis physics, as well as the introduction of manually deployed ERS. This all means that the cars feel great to drive and you can really feel the difference between the modern cars and the 20 classics there are in the game. There is a huge contrast between the low aero, low grip cars from the 1970s compared to the 2018 cars.”

As well as improvements to the career, classics and simulation, F1® 2018 has also undergone a significant graphical uplift with the inclusion of new visual elements, including environmental mist, heat haze, track mirage effects, new engine heat haze and off racing line dirt kick-up which brings it even closer to the real sport.

When playing online, the game’s new Super License system is designed to minimise the effects of poor driving in multiplayer races. Players are rated on their skill levels and driver etiquette and then matched with other gamers of a similar ability and driving style.

F1® 2018 is the official game of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship™ and features all of the official teams, drivers and circuits from the thrilling season. This includes the return of the iconic Hockenheimring and the addition of the FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE at the Circuit Paul Ricard.

Follow Codemasters F1® games blog and social channels on Twitter and Facebook for future updates.

F1® 2018 Adds Even Greater Depth To Career Mode

July 25th, 2018 by Isher Dhillon

Latest Developer Diary Focuses On Research & Development Enhancements

Codemasters® has today released the second part in a series of developer diaries for F1® 2018, the official videogame of the 2018 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, detailing how even greater depth has been added to the Career mode by expanding the player’s research and development options. The changes and additions to the system will now see each F1 team have its own unique technology tree with differing strengths and weaknesses.

The second of the four part series, which is available to watch now at www.youtube.com/formula1game, reveals that F1 2018’s Career will feature significant rule changes between seasons during the Career for the first time. Just like in the real sport, these rule changes can have a great effect on which teams compete for the championship so it is important to react to them as soon as possible. Alternatively, it is available to view below;

“We already had an extensive R&D system in last year’s game but wanted to expand this for F1 2018 based both on feedback from our community and where we want to take the Career experience too,” commented Lee Mather, Game Director, F1 2018. “We have made significant changes to the in-game pricing structure, added ERS upgrades, given each of the Formula 1 Teams their own unique R&D tree, and added a fog of war around the development.

“Probably the most significant addition is the introduction of rule changes, meaning that each season you don’t know where the other teams are going to be performance wise. It makes every year unique and drives you to want to do season after season.” Lee continued. “The player will be notified by their engineer that a rule change could be taking place at the end of the year and they can choose to use R&D points to preserve upgraded items to protect areas that have already been developed. Doing so could see the player starting the following season in a stronger position. However, the other teams will also have to contend with the rules changes, meaning you take to the grid in Melbourne not knowing which teams are the fastest.”

F1 2018 features all the official teams, the drivers and all 21 circuits of the thrilling 2018 season, including Circuit Paul Ricard and the Hockenheimring. As well as the current season’s offerings the game includes 20 iconic cars from the history of the sport allowing you to drive the likes of James Hunt’s legendary 1976 championship winning McLaren M23D and Niki Lauda’s Ferrari 312 T2, both of which featured in the hit movie ‘Rush’ (2013). F1 2018 will release onto PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam) worldwide on Friday 24th August 2018.

Follow Codemasters F1 games blog and social channels on Twitter and Facebook for future updates.

Take A Lap Of Hockenheinmring In F1® 2018 With Nico Hulkenberg

July 20th, 2018 by Isher Dhillon

Renault driver drives and narrates a lap of his home Grand Prix™ circuit

Codemasters® has today released a new video for F1® 2018, the official videogame of the 2018 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, with Renault Sport Formula One™ Team’s Nico Hülkenberg driving a lap of Hockenheimring, the home of the German Grand Prix™.

The video, available to view now at www.youtube.com/formula1game, shows the German driver navigating a lap of the famous circuit whilst talking about his home race returning, and giving advice on how to get the best possible lap time. Alternatively, it is available to view below;

The return of the German Grand Prix to the calendar for this season sees Hockenheimring included in F1 2018 along with Circuit Paul Ricard, which features in the series for the first time, and the 19 other official F1 circuits from around the world.

“It is always fantastic to have the real F1 drivers spending time with the game and giving us feedback on the handling and the game as a whole,” commented Lee Mather, Game Director, F1 2018. “The drivers can provide a finer level of insight. For example they can talk to us about facets of the circuits that only they know.”

F1 2018 offers the most complete Formula 1 gaming experience to date, reflecting the real sport, both on and off the track. Pressurised press interviews, expansive research and development, rule changes between seasons and mid season driver moves adds even greater depth to the Career mode. As well as featuring all the official teams, the drivers and circuits of the thrilling 2018 season F1 2018 includes 20 iconic cars from the history of the sport, the most in the franchise’s history.

F1 2018 will release onto PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam) worldwide on Friday 24th August 2018.

Follow Codemasters F1 games blog and social channels on Twitter and Facebook for future updates.