For the first time since I can remember, this is the least hyped I’ve been for a Formula One game. F1 24 saw the demise of the online racing league I co-owned because of low interest in the game from others, and I also sold my wheel setup because I just didn’t play the game enough. So it goes without saying that from a personal point of view F1 25 had a lot to do to re-grab my attention and, more importantly, my time. So what’s in F1 25 that’s going to keep my attention firmly to the racetrack and not elsewhere?
Let’s start with the ‘My Team’ mode which has been rebranded as ‘My Team 2.0’. It’s about time My Team got some love; since it launched to huge (and justified) fanfare in 2020 it’s just been left with little to no updates and by the time F1 23 rocked up there was no desire to play it from a personal point of view.
The main headline is that now you are just the owner, no more owner/driver shenanigans and before each race weekend you must pick one of your two drivers to get behind the wheel with. You choose an avatar that represents you, though unfortunately there’s just a handful to pick from and they can’t be edited. This, along with you as the owner no longer driving the car, does break the immersion somewhat.
My Team 2.0 certainly feels more detailed to setup. This year you can choose your owner’s background which will give you a bonus of resources based on what you pick, and as with previous iterations of My Team you can choose your starting cash, how good your facilities are, and how competitive your car will be at the start.
Another new feature to look out for as owner is the Fan Rating. Performing well will see you unlock bonuses to further boost your team, both financially and with discounts on upgrading your facilities. You also now have what looks like a skill ‘talent tree’ for your owner, which once again helps towards resources.
Braking Point returns for a third instalment in the series as we once again follow the trials and tribulations of Konnersports through 15 chapters. Braking Point 3 is different from the first two as they’ve now put some decisions in your hands. Some chapters allow you to choose either Aiden or Callie to go racing with, and race objectives will change based on who you choose.
In terms of on-track improvements, using the power of its EGO engine they’ve been able to improve the authenticity of some tracks through LIDAR technology. For those of us (me included) that might not know what that means, some of the circuits have been digitally scanned so you’ll be able to feel every bump and elevation change. Here’s some official blurb to make it a bit clearer:
“F1® 25 continues to innovate through the power of its EGO engine. Enabling increased circuit authenticity made possible through LIDAR technology, several tracks and their surroundings are transformed with a more realistic look and feel. This year, we have five rebuilt tracks: Bahrain, Miami, Melbourne, Suzuka and Imola. The entire circuits have been digitally scanned, generating millions of data points. This data is used for unprecedented accuracy when recreating tracks in-game, ensuring players feel every bump and change in elevation, just like the real drivers. The LIDAR models in EA SPORTS™ F1® are uniquely built using data scanned during actual F1® race weekends, which provides extra details (like additional safety barriers, marshal posts, advertising boards, fan areas, etc).”
Last year I was critical of how the car handled, and unfortunately, it wasn’t fixed throughout the game cycle. Thankfully, it feels a lot better this year, and the car feels more controllable through the corners. Another plus is how the AI perform—for many years, when racing against each other, they just created one big train and didn’t attempt to make moves on each other. Early signs from what I saw indicate that this has changed. They are more aggressive when it comes to overtakes, and against the player, rather than just sitting on one line, they will move on the straights to make it more difficult.
Conclusion
I’m encouraged by the work that has gone in to improve and launch My Team 2.0, but I can’t help but feel short-changed with too many customized options being locked behind a paywall. That being said, I can see myself putting a lot more hours into F1 25, exploring the different outcomes in Braking Point 3 and delving into a long-term save in My Team.
This game was reviewed based on Xbox S|X review code, using an Xbox S|X console. All of the opinions and insights here are subject to that version. Game provided by publisher.
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