Preview | This is what you can expect from F1 23 - Braking Point

A new F1 team on the grid

We all know that Andretti would love to get into Formula 1 but has to deal with the current teams who are not so keen. After all, this would impact the prize money they have to divide between them. In the virtual world of F1 23, this is not an issue, and so we see the team Konnersport being introduced. This was recently done with a real reveal in the style of how other teams present their car every year. Two drivers who do not exist in reality have been recruited for this team: Devon Butler and Aiden Jackson. The two rookies who first competed in the top class of motorsport in Braking Point two years ago.

Where Jackson was then still dealing with a problematic relationship between him and teammate Casper Ackermann, the latter has since retired. Given his excellent performance, Jackson managed to stay in Formula 1 and thus signed with the aforementioned team. Devon Butler was also a rookie then, and he has always had something nasty about him. He was the spoilt brat who couldn't resist poking around. Of course, now that the two are in a team together, it is only a matter of time before the drama ignites, and we have seen some snippets of that.

Managing and driving

As a now experienced driver, you help the new team make a name for itself. As before, you will have to deal with different scenarios that are part of the story. Many moments are presented via cutscenes, and the moments when you get into action are mainly predefined situations. For instance, the story begins during the race in Miami, where you perform well but face bad luck. Annoying but understandable for a brand-new team dealing with teething problems. Work to be done, then, and while you'll still be stepping into Jackson's shoes on the track, you'll also occasionally have to operate as team boss.

In between races and specific situations surrounding racing, you will also receive questions by e-mail or situations you must respond to. For example, after the Miami Grand Prix, Devon promised that people would get a tour of the factory. This coincides exactly when a team-building activity is scheduled, which is annoying. Do you call a halt to Butler or change the plans for the team, who won't necessarily appreciate it either? These are those moments when you have to make a choice, and in the meantime, you see the team boss - for whom you are making these choices for - also constantly in a kind of contrast.

As team boss, the best man is obviously trying to move the team forward, but at the same time, he doesn't want to antagonise Devon Butler's father. After all, the latter is the team's main sponsor and has a finger in the pie. You can see this later in the season when Jackson drives behind Butler at the Hungarian Grand Prix. You are faster, and the team shouts over the radio for Butler to let you pass, which he does not do. Afterwards, in the debrief, this results in a discussion, with Butler saying that his radio didn't work. Everyone in the room knows it's nonsense, but in a one-to-one conversation with the team boss, his father says that if Devon says the radio isn't working, it isn't. In other words: don't whine and move on.

Needless to say, situations like that cause friction, with Devon Butler sometimes acting childish towards Aiden Jackson. Meanwhile, the team boss has to manage it, and on top of that, you also have interviews every now and then, in which you have to choose your answers very carefully. You understand that this eventually builds to a boiling point and becomes dramatic. Codemasters has previously revealed that they are partly inspired by Netflix's Drive to Survive, where the drama is also often too much. We saw this in Braking Point in 2021, and now it seems to be taken to the next level.

Different scenarios

In terms of gameplay, this Braking Point sequel has the same to offer as the previous story. So you can expect the same structure, with scenarios being presented to you as the season progresses. In many of these scenarios, you will have to drive a predetermined number of laps, and then the story will continue via cutscenes. For each scenario, you will be presented with a fixed goal, supplemented by optional objectives. You can try to complete these, which provide more challenges, but it is unnecessary for the story. However, we can imagine that this will impact Braking Point's development, although it is not yet clear from the preview exactly how much impact it will have.

The same goes for the choices in answers you give in interviews. Here you can be neutral but offensive towards your team or teammate. Now, interviews in F1 games are nothing new, but they provide that overall Braking Point experience. However, we also know from experience that the interviews are far from logical, let alone have an effective consequence in the later game. Whether this is the case now remains to be seen; the preview was stupidly too short for that. However, none of this takes away from the fact that the different situations, the new team and the struggles of the team boss you will experience will make for fun developments, which makes us curious about the overall picture.

Familiar experience

We mainly got a taste of the Braking Point mode, and it certainly tastes like more. If you really liked this in F1 21, you will have a good time with it here too. At least, that is the expectation based on what we have played. But of course, the racing itself is also an essential factor, and we can be brief about that. Codemasters has been bringing us high-quality Formula 1 games for years, and this year will be no different. The gameplay already felt very familiar and nice in the preview version, making it easy to get in for veterans. For newcomers, the game is equipped with all kinds of tools so that everyone can participate at their own pace and skill level, automatically making it accessible to young and old. Plus point: visually, the game seems to have taken a step forward in racing in particular, which is a good thing.

F1 23 is in development for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC. It is scheduled for release on 16 June 2023.