EA Sports F1 25 is set to deliver one of the most authentic racing simulation experiences yet. However, since the release of F1 21, the series has evolved to offer much more than just pure simulation. The acclaimed story mode, known as Braking Point, is making its return for the third time in F1 25. Similar to the My Team management mode, Braking Point directly places players in the heart of the Formula 1 action. Instead of managing the overall operation of your team, this mode focuses on the dramatic narrative surrounding an up-and-coming F1 squad.
Gavin Cooper, the creative director, explained the rationale behind the story`s progression: “When we introduced the characters of Braking Point in F1 21, and then we introduced Konnersport in F1 23, it was important to us that those characters felt authentic, and it didn’t feel realistic that those characters could come in and start winning championships right from the outset.” He elaborated that the significant time and investment dedicated to these characters over the past five years have now reached a point where telling a championship-contending story feels earned and realistic, positioning the fictional team directly against the official F1 teams as rivals.
A key goal for Braking Point is to provide an inviting entry point for players new to the series.
“We`re conscious that, for a lot of new players, Braking Point is a natural first place for them to visit,” Cooper stated. The development team aimed to facilitate a smooth transition for players upon completing Braking Point, guiding them towards the game`s other modes. He also highlighted the mode`s impressively high completion rate among players who start it.
Players who finish the Braking Point storyline are presented with a tailored option that allows them to continue their journey with the Konnersport team, transitioning directly from the end of the story into the beginning of either of the game`s main Career modes.
The narrative also offers replayability, as certain events allow players to choose their driver, and this choice can lead to alternate outcomes and endings within the story.
For players who prefer a greater challenge, a new fourth difficulty setting has been added specifically for the Braking Point mode. Furthermore, the existing three difficulty levels have undergone rebalancing to better cater to a wider range of player skill levels. A notable visual improvement is the integration of Nvidia Audio2Face technology. This innovation generates detailed facial animations directly from recorded audio, allowing drivers to appear fully animated from a front-facing camera angle during segments like “Meet The Press.” This advanced animation capability also extends to characters encountered in the My Team mode, including the facility heads.
In a first for the franchise, F1 25 will feature a unique crossover event linked to the upcoming `F1` movie, which stars Brad Pitt. The film introduces a fictional team named Apex Grand Prix, abbreviated as APXGP. Upon the game`s launch, F1 25 players will have the ability to select and use the APXGP team in the My Team mode, or alternatively, add them to their Driver Career grid as the 11th competing team. After the game`s release (and coinciding with the movie`s premiere on June 25), players will have access to special gameplay sequences based on key moments from the film, offering rewards such as car liveries, driver suits, and helmets featured in the movie.
Alongside the refinements made to the My Team mode and the standard annual enhancements players expect, F1 25 is positioned to be the most feature-rich and comprehensive racing simulation title released by the series thus far. Players can anticipate getting their first hands-on experience with the game starting May 30.
Rupert Caldwell 
Tristan Blackwood