Formula One Racing is one of the most well established, high-class racing competitions in the world. Its iconic single-seater racing cars are easy to recognize, even for those who do not follow the competitive racing scene. The cars have been popular enough to find their way into video games likeGrand Theft Auto 5as a casino wheel prize, as well as get their own video game adaptation in theF1video game series.
Sadly, it looks like those cars will be gathering more dust than their drivers would like in the coming months, as the coronavirus has led to a shutdown of the regularly scheduled F1 Grand Prix as it has for so much else. However, there may be a solution in the form of the above mentionedF1game series, developed byCodemasters, that more and more established sporting events are turning to.
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Codemasters is responsible not only for the officialF1game series, but also for the adaptation of other popular racing icons into videogames, whether from companies, sports events like F1, or movies. While it looks like the company’sFast and Furious: Crossroadswill be delayeddue to the delay of the latest film in the franchise (Fast 9), its most recentF1title,F1 2019will soon see much more traffic than previously thought possible.
The Formula One Group recently announced that the planned racing events of F1 will now be replaced by in-game eSports races between real-life professionals, using a virtual racetrack to replace the ones the coronavirus has made unavailable. The first of these virtual races occurred on March 22, and more are scheduled for the following weeks, although these races will not be for titles, so the championship will not change hands.
The Formula One Group is not the first sports organization to attempt to replace its canceled season with a virtual substitute. TheNBA will be closing out its season inNBA 2K20, or at least attempting to, and with Formula One now attempting the same, a precedent has been set for other sporting events to temporarily transform into eSport events. There will be some changes from the main game, including anti-lock brakes and reduced car damage, which Formula One has put in place to help its professional drivers. After all, they are far more used to driving a real car than a car in a video game.
These are not the only draws toF1 2019that fans will have to look forward to, as exhibition races are planned that will see pros compete against all comers in the game who dare to challenge them. ConsideringF1 2019 is considered to be a huge step forward in racing games, this is a great chance to both show off what the game is capable of and for players to try their skill against real-life pros.
Another big draw is the fact that celebrities from outside the racing scene will be competing in the official Esports Formula One Grand Prix races alongside the pros. While celebrities likeSnoop Dogg have been added to sports games likeNHL 2020, this is the first time in this unprecedented situation where they will be competing in a real-life competition along real pros that has been transferred into a video game.
F1 2019is available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
