EA Sports F1 24: the new career mode arrives loaded and renewed

The upcoming release of F1 24, from EA Sports and Codemasters, is almost a month away. As part of the preview we attended, we continue to present some of the improvements that this year’s version presents. This time, we focus on the career mode, which comes with a series of improvements and changes to take us even deeper into the world of F1 racing.

Where the true authenticity of a Formula 1 season really shows through

The career mode of a sports game is one of the most important to get familiar with its mechanics, but it is also a mode that needs to be kept fresh to keep players engaged. Although the F1 series has seen tweaks throughout the years, for F1 24, they decided to create a new experience in this mode, as Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director at Codemasters, explained to us.

In previous years, players only had the option to play with a created character, but for F1 24 this will change, giving the option to also choose between F1 drivers, F2, or as an Icon. When you create a character you will have the option to start your legend as a Formula 2 driver where you can be part of the driving academies, your progress will help you move up to Formula 1, negotiate your contract, and influence your level in this new world.

One of the cornerstones of this year is the Driver Ratings, which in previous years have been a key part of giving visibility to the skill of the drivers. This rating will now apply to your driver, making it an important part of the rivalry systems, the contract and even to compete with your teammate.

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To reflect all this, a Recognition system will be introduced to show the overall value of the driver within his team. This system is influenced by several factors, from your time in Formula 2, your performance on track after each race, and how you achieve the goals of your contracts, to one of the new sections of this mode, the secret meetings. This recognition will bring you some benefits, as the goal is to be recognized as the main driver of your team. When you reach this point, your decisions will carry more weight, determining the direction of the team, as well as influencing the R&D department, with which you can develop secret improvements for your car.

Speaking of R&D, at the end of your first season, F1 24 will allow you to take part in the R&D Scenario, where your decisions will affect the team’s R&D systems, creating different experiences from year to year, such as financial difficulties, making each season feel fresh.

Another added feature is the Accolades system, which represents key moments for each racer, allowing you to grow your legacy as a legend with your created character, or continue to add to the real racers that appear in the game. These can be considered short, medium and long term goals, depending on the type of racer you use. One way to achieve these accolades is through your team’s new Specialists, which will help you set goals within your races during the season and beyond. Achieving these goals will help you improve your relationship with the team, which will allow for new R&D benefits.

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On-Track Challenges and Rivalries

As part of the new features in Career Mode, a new system of On-Track Challenges has been added to motivate and incentivize players during races by creating short-term goals that benefit both the driver and the team. Such goals will be rewarded by increasing the driver’s rating and improving the relationship with the Specialists.

Of course, it wouldn’t be F1 without some kind of Rivalry, either with other teams or within the team itself. That’s why the career mode now includes 3 new types of rivalries, each with 3 levels of intensity. From a battle with your teammate to show who has the best car, to one focused on competition with a team that is tied for points in the championship, or simply another driver with a similar skill level to your character.

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Challenge Career and 2P Driver Career

Within the career mode, a new concept enters the game where all the previous elements are taken, but you compete with other players asynchronously through episodic content. This content is completely curated by Codemasters, where they choose a racer, tracks, team, R&D, etc. where you will have the same experience but you will have to compete to see who achieves it more effectively. This game mode is divided into four difficulties to keep the competition fair and against players of the same level as you. This mode will have a presence on social media and players will be able to vote by making decisions on what can come in the next season.

As for the 2-player mode, it will be completely revamped from the ground up. The mode will allow you to play with a friend, either in the same team or in completely different teams. All of the aforementioned elements that are integrated into the career mode will also be available here.

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F1 2024 will be released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC next May 31 for players who purchase the standard version, or May 28 for those who purchase the Champions Edition, which provides early access to the game.