Game Preview: F1 2014

The good news is that despite the fact the 2014 F1 season is currently half-way through, Codemasters has managed to release this year's version of the videogame, cunningly dubbed F1 2014, a little earlier than previously.

Well a couple of weeks at least – which means an October 16 arrival for PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 owners.

The bad news is that if you own a brand-new PS4 or Xbox One, you'll get F1 2014 in 2015…

Although the way Codemasters spins it is that Xbox One and PS4 owners get the game "earlier in the [2015] season and deliver new season content updates digitally as the 2015 season progresses," said Stephen Hood, Creative Director for the F1 franchise at Codemasters.

"Our title for the new generation formats will mark a huge step forward for the F1 series," said Hood.

For this year’s season the F1 2014 game will incorporate all the new regulations in use in the real world. That means rule changes that represent what some are calling the most significant updates in the sport's history.

Fans will of course already know this includes new aerodynamic regulations and the adoption of turbocharged V6 power units with longer lasting KERS (electric motor) boosting. All but two teams have changed their driver line-ups and new circuits have been added to the roster too.

According to the developers players will experience how 2014's radically different new cars feel to drive as the season's cars, circuits and teams are authentically represented.

We have to wonder if gamers will flock to the Mercedes AMG team, considering its cars are light years ahead of its rivals in 2014, having won all but two races thus far.

"This is the year it all changes – for the sport and for the game," noted Hood. "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," he declared.

F1 2014 claims to deliver a range of enhancements to create the most accessible Formula 1 video game to date. The idea is to extend the driver evaluation system, identifying player ability levels and tuning game settings accordingly. Re-graded difficulty settings enable players to compete at incrementally higher levels as they become more experienced, increasing the challenge and satisfaction of victory, say F1 2014's creators.

Experienced gamers who enjoy a more serious simulation can customise their settings to provide a true challenge. And fans of the series will know, cranking the difficulty and realism settings up to maximum delivers a brutal contest.

"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," said Hood.