EA SPORTS and Codemasters are breaking with an old tradition next year: there will be no standalone F1 game in 2026 – a paid expansion will bring the new season to screens.
Since 2009, developer Codemasters has produced and released a new Formula 1 game every year – alongside EA SPORTS since 2021. In 2026, this tradition will be broken: the Vancouver-based publisher has announced that it will not be releasing a standalone game for the premier class of motorsport next year.
The upcoming season will be covered in the form of a paid expansion for the current title, F1 25. According to the announcement, the series will return in 2027 with a new game that will “mark the beginning of a new and more comprehensive F1 experience.”
In its statement, EA SPORTS emphasizes the commercial success of F1 25, but also its critical acclaim. The racing game has been praised by “players, media, content creators, and Formula 1 drivers” alike. In fact, most of the feedback on F1 25 has been positive—mostly without exuberant cheers.
Is the new practice at EA SPORTS rubbing off?
The creators themselves are concerned: “F1 25 was an incredible success, driven by the passion of the fans and the energy of the sport. Given the momentum of Formula 1 on and off the track, now is the perfect time for us to look ahead and plan for the future,” says Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director at Codemasters.
“We are fully committed to the F1 franchise. Our multi-year plan extends this year’s excitement with the 2026 expansion and reimagines the F1 experience for 2027 to offer even more to players of all skill levels around the world,” Mather continues.
It will be exciting to see whether this new practice could rub off on other sports titles at EA SPORTS: Madden NFL, NHL—and above all, FC. A paradigm shift in the financial concept of soccer simulation would make big waves in the scene.
