F1 2018 (video game)

F1 2018 is the official video game of the 2018 Formula One World Championship developed and published by Codemasters. The game includes all twenty-one circuits from the calendar and all twenty drivers and ten teams competing in the season. It was released on 24 August 2018 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.[1]

F1 2018
Developer(s)	Codemasters Birmingham
Publisher(s)	Codemasters Deep Silver Ubisoft
Composer(s)	Miktek Formula One theme composed by Brian Tyler
Series	Formula One
Engine	EGO Engine 3.0
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One
Release	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One 24 August 2018
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Multiplayer single-player

Features

F1 2018 features substantial revisions to its "Career Mode" compared to previous systems. F1 2017 introduced a detailed progression system that allowed the player to focus on developing the engine, chassis and aerodynamics of their car. This was simplified in F1 2018 as Codemasters' research demonstrated that players were losing interest in the game before completing the car's development cycle.[2]

Players develop their cars by spending "development points", which are earned by meeting research and development targets during free practice sessions. Codemasters have introduced a wider range of free practice programs to the game in a bid to extend the game's longevity.[2] At the halfway point of each championship, the player has the option of ending their development cycle and banking all future development points for the next championship. This function has a renewed importance in F1 2018 as teams are subject to rule changes at the end of each championship which can potentially compromise the car's performance.[2]

As with previous titles, F1 2018 includes "Classic Cars", these being Formula One cars from previous seasons. The game includes much older cars dating back to the 1970s, such as the 1972 Lotus 72D, which took Emerson Fittipaldi to his first world championship, the McLaren M23 and the Ferrari 312T, which were driven by James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 championship;[3] The special edition includes the Brawn BGP 001, the car which Jenson Button and Brawn GP won the 2009 World Drivers' and World Constructors' Championships;[4] and the Williams FW25, the car with which Juan Pablo Montoya finished third in the 2003 championship. All of the Classic Cars that were featured in F1 2017 are included in F1 2018.[3]

As the game is based on the 2018 championship, the Circuit Paul Ricard made its debut in the series. The Hockenheimring, which was last featured in F1 2016, made its return to the game.

Also due to 2018 regulations, the halo makes its debut in the F1 games.

The game also features an online multiplayer mode. There are different leagues that require the player to get an obligatory number of trophies to reach. The player can win or lose trophies depending on their performances on these online races. Actions such as cutting corners or colliding with other cars have a negative effect on the player's "Safety Rating". This rates players based on their overall cleanliness in a similar way to the Super License system for real Formula 1 drivers.

Development

Following widespread criticism of a qualifying format used in the opening rounds of the 2016 championship,[5][6][7] the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and commercial rights holder Liberty Media announced plans to trial regulation changes through the Formula One eSports Series,[8] which debuted in 2017 with the release of the F1 2017 video game.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score Aggregator Score Metacritic PC: 83/100[9] PS4: 84/100[10] XONE: 84/100[11] Review scores Publication Score Game Informer 8.75/10 GamesMaster 87% GameSpot 9/10 IGN 8.5/10 Jeuxvideo.com 17/20

F1 2018 was the bestselling game in the United Kingdom during its first week on sale.[12] In Japan, the PlayStation 4 version sold 5,517 copies during its first week of release.[13] It was also the bestselling physical retail game across Europe, the Middle East and Africa throughout the week beginning August 26 2018, and the second-best selling digital game throughout the same week.[14]

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref
2018	Game Critics Awards	Best Racing Game	Nominated	[15]
	Gamescom Awards		Nominated	[16]
		Best Simulation Game	Nominated
		Best Sports Game	Nominated
	Titanium Awards	Best Sports/Driving Game	Nominated	[17]
2019	D.I.C.E. Awards	Racing Game of the Year	Nominated	[18]
	National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards	Game, Franchise Racing	Nominated	[19]
	Italian Video Game Awards	People's Choice	Nominated	[20]
	Develop:Star Awards	Best Use of Game Engine	Nominated	[21]

References

1. Mazique, Brian (22 August 2018). "'F1 2018' Release Date And 10 Things You Should Know Before Buying This Year's Game". Forbes. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
2. Lillo, Sergio (19 July 2018). "F1 2018 game to have career rule changes shake up competitive order". Autosport.
3. Errington, Tom (13 July 2018). "Classic cars from 1970s and '80s added to F1 game for 2018". Autosport. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
4. Freeman, Glenn (18 June 2018). "F1 2018 game to include 2009 Brawn GP BGP 001 car". Autosport.
5. Lines, Chris (19 March 2016). "F1 qualifying format slammed as Hamilton wins Australia pole". Associated Press. Melbourne: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
6. Weaver, Paul (19 March 2016). "F1 qualifying universally condemned as Lewis Hamilton grabs Melbourne pole". The Guardian. Melbourne: Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
7. Morlidge, Matthew (19 March 2016). "New qualifying format slammed as 'unacceptable' and 'embarrassing'". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
8. "F1 to use esports to trial regulation changes". Speedcafe. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
9. "F1 2018 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
10. "F1 2018 for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
11. "F1 2018 for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
12. Tailby, Stephen (28 August 2018). "UK Sales Charts: Shenmue and F1 2018 Bring the Bandicoot Crashing Down". Push Square. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
13. Romano, Sal (26 September 2018). "Media Create Sales: 9/17/18 – 9/23/18". Gematsu. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
14. Dring, Christopher (5 September 2018). "F1 2018 dominates EMEA charts". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
15. Watts, Steve (5 July 2018). "Resident Evil 2 Wins Top Honor In E3 Game Critics Awards". GameSpot. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
16. Keane, Sean (22 August 2018). "Gamescom 2018 award winners include Marvel's Spider-Man, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate". CNET. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
17. "Titanium Awards 2018". Fun & Serious Game Festival. 10 December 2018. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
18. Makuch, Eddie (10 January 2019). "God Of War, Spider-Man Lead DICE Awards; Here's All The Nominees". GameSpot. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
19. "Nominee List for 2018". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. 11 February 2019. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
20. "Italian Video Game Awards Nominees and Winners". Italian Video Game Awards. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
21. Blake, Vikki (16 May 2019). "Shortlist for Develop:Star Awards 2019 revealed". MCV. Retrieved 20 June 2019.