2015 F1 game to feature in-season updates

Next year's official Formula One video game will be available on new-generation platforms and will feature live, in-season updates for the first time, Codemasters have confirmed. The game, which will be playable on the Xbox One, Playstation 4 and PC, will also be released earlier in the season.

Players will receive digital updates for the game as the 2015 FIA Formula One World Championship unfolds, enabling them to compete against the drivers and teams they watch week in and week out.

Codemasters have also revealed a release date of October 17 for their F1 2014 game, which boasts several new features including an enhanced career mode and an intuitive driver evaluation system that tunes the game difficulty to each player's individual ability

The 2014 game will cover the rule changes made at the start of the season, meaning new turbocharged cars - with refined handling - and new circuits in Sochi and Spielberg. For the first time, Bahrain will also be a night race, with the transition from day to night also incorporated.

Stephen Hood, creative director of Codemasters' F1 series, said sweeping changes within the sport will make for a radically different game.

"This is the year it all changes - for the sport and for the game," he said. "There's been a dramatic shift in the sport; the largest shake up in the rules and regulations for a very long time and the new power units provide a very different kind of challenge, for both driver and team.

"By delivering all of these changes, F1 2014 will make for an exciting and refreshingly different experience.

"Additionally, with the new driver evaluation system analysing each player's skill level and suggesting appropriate game settings, plus re-graded difficulty levels including a brand new Very Easy setting, we aim to deliver a thoroughly rewarding F1 experience for players of all abilities, from the novice to the seasoned pro.

"Our [2015] title for the new generation formats will mark a huge step forward for the F1 series. We want to be out there earlier in the season and deliver content updates digitally as the season progresses; it’s very exciting for the series and our players."

The 2014 game will be available on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. Codemasters will reveal further details of their 2015 game in the coming months. For more information visit www.formula1-game.com.