New F1 World and online safety ratings announced

F1 23 has finally been announced, but what will F1 23 multiplayer hold for racers everywhere?

Codemasters has had a long and successful run with their annual F1 titles, but that slowed last year as F1 22 rather let down players.

Its similar to previous years where lack of development left players a bit let down. Luckily, it looks like F1 23 will shake things up with an expanded multiplayer mode and a new safety system to encourage clean racing.

Here’s everything we know so far about F1 23 multiplayer.

Latest news – First F1 23 multiplayer details revealed

Now that F1 23 has broken cover, we have the first multiplayer details.

A new mode called F1 World will expand on F1 22’s divisive F1 Life social hub, while a new safety system will encourage clean racing for a better online multiplayer experience.

Along with new multiplayer features, Braking Point is making a triumphant return, with a new story that sees returning characters Aiden Jackson and Devon Butler race for the fictional Konnersport Racing team.

There will also be a new car upgrade system where you earn car parts through winning races and completing team objectives. The new Las Vegas circuit will be in F1 23 at launch and red flags are returning for the first time since F1 2014.

F1 23 multiplayer

As always, F1 23 is expected to have a thriving multiplayer experience.

While the quality of your opposition is never assured in open lobbies, F1’s ranked lobbies can usually keep you away from the chaos once you make it through the early tiers.

F1 23’s multiplayer will see some significant changes to improve the experience.

New safety rating system

F1 23 introduces a new safety rating system linking online and offline play. This will encourage clean racing while also matching you with like-minded players for more competitive online racing.

We’ll have to wait to find out more details about how this system works, but if the safety rating system is similar to iRacing, this will be a game-changer for F1 23’s multiplayer.

F1 World

F1 22 introduced F1 Life, an online multiplayer hub where you can visit other players’ hubs and show off your supercar collection to other players.

F1 23 will expand on F1 Life with a new mode called F1 World. Inspired by the real-world calendar, this new hub incorporates multiple game modes including Time Trial and Grand Prix.

Codemasters hasn’t shown F1 World yet, but it will also presumably incorporate online aspects for a more seamless experience than F1 Life.

F1 Life allowed you to customise player hubs, visit other players’ spaces and show off your supercar collection. We expect this to return in F1 World.

Crossplay

F1 22 introduced crossplay multiplayer for the first time in the series. This meant players could race together across last- and current-gen consoles.

It’s not clear yet if F1 23 will have crossplay, but we would be surprised if it doesn’t. Players who pre-order on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S will get dual entitlement to the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game, so crossplay multiplayer should be possible.

Since Codemasters hasn’t confirmed it yet, crossplay multiplayer might be added after launch in a post-release update. This was the case for F1 22 – crossplay multiplayer was added over a month after the initial launch.

New events

F1 22 experimented somewhat with a limited-time event called the Elimination Event. This race didn’t utilise penalties applied after the race.

Instead, it slowed drivers down automatically for penalties, while every 40 seconds the car in last place was cut from the field like a racing version of Squid Game.

It was a chaotic and thrilling mode that was a true breath of fresh air to the online experience and it is one we hope Codemasters makes permanent for F1 23.

Lobby stability

For the last few years, F1 games have launched in a less-than-stable condition for multiplayer racers.

This has been a huge frustration for leagues in particular, and this is where we want to see some big improvements.

As Formula 1 grows in popularity, so does F1 Esports and elite leagues like PSGL. Watching desyncs and lobby crashes in front of thousands of viewers is a miserable experience for everyone in the F1 community, and having this fixed ought to be a priority for Codemasters, EA, and even F1.

League support

Speaking of leagues, it would be great to see more tools provided in-game for leagues to operate. In-game calendar and standings for your league would be a terrific touch for managers and drivers alike.

Further support and tools for players here, along with visibility for those that want to leave open lobbies behind, would be a wonderful addition to the game and cater to the players that pour hours of time into the F1 game both on and off track.

Release date

F1 23’s release date is now confirmed. Players who get the Standard Edition can go racing on 16 June. This is earlier than usual, as previous Codemasters F1 games arrived in late June or early July.

Pre-ordering the Champions Edition will get you on the grid three days earlier on 13 June.

As for platforms, F1 23 is launching on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via EA App, Epic Games Store, and Steam.