The latest addition to EA’s legendary video game franchise looks like its most ambitious yet.
Arriving next month on PC and consoles, F1 22 is the latest racing game simulator from EA Sports. It’s also the first in the long-running series to feature support for VR headsets, allowing you to further immerse yourself in the high-speed action.
Earlier this week, a new trailer dropped, teasing two-and-a-half minutes of goosebump-inducing VR gameplay captured using a PC VR headset. The video features professional F1 driver Lance Stroll of Team Aston Martin racing in the Canadian Grand Prix, one of several circuits you’ll compete in when the game launches on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC VR headsets on July 1st.
F1 22 will feature improved physics and a new handling model designed to better simulate what it’s like to sit behind the wheel of an F1 racecar. Of course, a new season means new cars as well as new courses, such as the Miami International Autodrome. In addition to VR, F1 22 will also be the first in the series to feature the F1 Sprint—a mini race featuring the usual roster of F1 superstars like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen—as well as F1 Life, a lavish new space to show off your supercars, clothing, and accessories.
“It’s a new era in the sport of Formula 1 and also a new era for us with the F1 series. The first thing which will stand out is that this is our first fully EA SPORTS branded title, which is clear from the new naming convention and something we’re very proud to be part of,” said Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director for F1 22, during an interview with The Xbox Hub.
When it came to VR support, EA Sports enlisted the help of developer Codemasters, the same team that brought VR to DiRT, another popular racing game for PC and consoles.
“We’ve heard it loud and clear from our players that they wanted VR in the F1 series. We needed to make sure we were in a position to be able to deliver it to the level we expected of our work,” added Mather. “We wanted to be sure that the VR on track experience was going to be as immersive and exciting as it deserves to be.”
“We also had a great opportunity to partner with the team who delivered VR for the DiRT series so we knew we’d be getting quality. Alongside our amazingly detailed visuals, deep and immersive audio, and the sheer pace and excitement of Formula 1, I think everyone is going to love what we’ve achieved with VR.”
F1 22 will be available beginning July 1st on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and in VR using a PC VR headset or the Meta Quest via Air Link, Virtual Desktop, or any other VR streaming solution. For more information visit here.
Image Credit: EA Sports
