EA Sports Halts Annual F1 Game for 2026 Season

EA Sports and Codemasters have announced there will be no standalone official F1 game for the 2026 season, breaking an almost two-decade tradition of annual releases. Instead, F1 2025 will serve as a two-year platform, with a premium content update planned for 2026 to introduce new regulations, cars, and drivers, marking a "strategic reset" for the franchise.

Why it matters:

The decision to skip a standalone 2026 game signifies a major shift in EA Sports' strategy for the highly popular F1 gaming franchise. This hiatus is intended to allow the developers to create a fundamentally new and reimagined F1 experience for the 2027 season, potentially addressing long-standing fan feedback and leveraging new technological advancements.

The Details:

• No Standalone 2026 Game: Instead of a new release, F1 2025 will be updated with 2026 season content.
• Premium Content Update: Existing F1 2025 players will be able to purchase a premium content pack for the 2026 season. This update will include the new active aerodynamics cars, revolutionary hybrid power units, updated teams, drivers, and sporting regulations.
• Strategic Reset: EA Sports describes this move as a "strategic reset" for the franchise, aiming to deliver an entirely new game experience for 2027 that "looks, feels, and plays differently."
• Development Goals: Lee Mather, Codemasters' senior creative director, stated that the multi-year plan extends the excitement with the 2026 expansion and seeks to reimagine the F1 experience for 2027.
• Requirements: The 2026 premium content pack will require ownership of the F1 2025 base game, an EA account, an internet connection, and all game updates installed. Pricing for this update has not yet been announced.
• Historical Context: The F1 series by Codemasters has been released annually without interruption since 2009. F1 2025 will be the fifth game under EA Sports' ownership since their acquisition of Codemasters in 2021.

What's next:

While players won't get a brand-new game in 2026, the premium content update ensures they can still experience the significant regulation changes, new cars, and updated grid. The true test of this strategic pivot will come with the 2027 release, as EA Sports and Codemasters aim to deliver a reimagined F1 gaming experience that could redefine the franchise for years to come.