There will be no new full version of EA Sports F1 next year, only a paid expansion pack. The release break is part of a multi-year investment plan with which EA aims to enhance and expand the gaming experience.
Formula 1 fans will not be getting a new video game next year. Electronic Arts has announced that there will be no new version of EA Sports F1 in 2026. Instead, a paid expansion is planned, which will include all driver and team changes, rule changes, new cars, and other changes. EA plans to announce the exact release date and price of this expansion next year.
Such a release hiatus for an EA sports game franchise that is otherwise released annually is unusual, but not unprecedented. EA indirectly justifies the move with a fundamental overhaul of the game: "We’re fully committed to the EA SPORTS F1 franchise. Our multi-year plan extends this year’s excitement with the 2026 expansion and reimagines the F1 experience for 2027 to deliver even more for players at every level around the world," says Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director at Codemasters.
In this context, EA also refers to a plan for a multi-year strategic investment in the franchise, which is also supported by Formula One management and the F1 teams. EA does not go into specifics, but it stands to reason that SimRacing will also be rethought in connection with EA Sports F1. EA Sports F1 pursues a grassroots approach to SimRacing.
Professional F1 racing teams, on the other hand, use specialized versions of rFpro, and in the professional e-sports sector, which is not limited to F1, there are a whole range of products such as iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione. This market is highly competitive, not least because two more titles were added this fall with Racing from Competition Company and Project Motor Racing from Giants Software.
