Next year's F1 World Championships won't get a new game, but a paid expansion to this year's game instead, says EA
"We're fully committed to the EA Sports F1 franchise."
F1 25 will receive a paid expansion to cover next year's F1 season, EA has said, instead of receiving a new standalone game as expected.
As with many EA Sports games, the F1 series has received a new game each year to represent the sport's new season, since EA acquired Codemasters in 2021. But that won't be the case next year.
This decision is "part of a strategic reset for the F1 Franchise," said Lee Mather, senior creative director at Codemasters, in a statement. And while the developer is skipping a new game for 2026, in 2027 it will release a new game "that looks, feels, and plays differently, delivering more gameplay choices".
Mather further emphasised the developer's commitment to the F1 series.
"F1 25 has been an incredible success, fueled by the passion of fans and the energy of the sport," said Mather. "With Formula 1's momentum on and off the track, now is the perfect time for us to look ahead and build for the future.
"We're fully committed to the EA Sports F1 franchise. Our multi-year plan extends this year's excitement with the 2026 expansion and reimagines the F1 experience for 2027 to deliver even more for players at every level around the world."
It does feel like a somewhat ironic decision, considering F1's 2026 season is bringing new regulations to shake up the sport. Hopefully these will be reflected authentically in the expansion, before 2027's brand new standalone game.
Though not mentioned by Mathew, EA confirmed earlier this year it had reduced some roles at Codemasters and ended its partnership with the World Rally Championship.
"As a business, we are constantly evolving to meet the growing needs of our players and driving greater focus across our portfolio," the company said in a statement. "This has led us to look at reducing some roles, while we redeploy as many as possible against our strategic priorities."
It's unclear if these layoffs have also impacted development on the F1 games.
Back in September, EA announced it would be privately acquired in a $55bn deal by a group of investors, including Saudi Arabia's investment fund.
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