Formula 1 video game: The biggest and best change for 2022

The F1 22 video game is set to be released at the start of July, and this year’s game features one change that stands out above all the others.

F1 22 is a Formula 1 racing video game developed by Codemasters and published by EA Sports. The official video game of the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship is the 15th entry in the F1 series by Codemasters.

Just as there is every year, there has been much hype surrounding the release of this game, which is scheduled to take place on Friday, July 1. On the cover are Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Mercedes’ George Russell, and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

The game is set to launch on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. Players can also pre-order the Champions Edition, giving access to new players three days prior to the official launch (Tuesday, June 28).

On the cover of the Champions Edition are the sport’s four active world champions: seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso of Alpine, and reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull.

But what makes this game so special, compared to the many others already released in this series?

Well, for one, for the first time since 2019, the 22 tracks in the game match up with the tracks on the real-life calendar.

Because of the many schedule changes made in 2020 and 2021 stemming from COVID-19-related restrictions, it was impossible for the game to feature the exact tracks on the calendar, given the time and effort that goes into constructing each one.

But the biggest change to the game this year is the fact that, for the first time ever, the game has VR support.

Codemasters says that this VR support will provide users with “the ultimate immersive F1 experience with virtual reality compatibility on PC that lets you feel the drama of the race from right inside the cockpit”.

Here is what Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director of Codemasters, had to say.

"“VR revolutionizes F1 22 on PC and takes the race weekend to an entirely new level. From the claustrophobia of sitting in the cockpit to the intensity of lights out as 20 cars accelerate towards the first corner. This is as close to Formula 1 racing as you can get without being on the actual grid.”"

Having had the chance to test the game with a Meta Quest 2, one of a number of different headsets which works with the game, we can accurately say that this quote is a massive understatement, and it is well worth the investment.

Notably, this change isn’t just available for Formula 1. It is available for Formula 2 and supercars as well, both of which are also included in the game.

Be sure to pre-order your copy of the game now, and don’t miss out on your opportunity to try out the many new features of F1 22, including F1 Life, MyTeam, adaptive AI, F1 Sprint races, new supercars, enhanced physics and much more — and be sure to do so in VR!