While F1 25 is renowned as one of the most realistic racing simulators available, the series has evolved considerably since F1 21, offering much more than just pure simulation. `Braking Point,` the popular story mode within the F1 franchise, returns for its third installment in F1 25. Much like the `My Team` management mode, Braking Point plunges players directly into the thick of the competition. However, instead of overseeing the organizational aspects, players navigate the dramatic journey of an emerging F1 team.
Gavin Cooper, the creative director, explained the evolution of the story mode. “When we first introduced the Braking Point characters in F1 21 and Konnersport in F1 23,” he stated, “authenticity was key. It wouldn`t have been realistic for them to immediately compete for championships.” He added that the investment in these characters over five years now allows them to tell a story where “they are credible championship contenders, challenging the established official teams as genuine rivals.”
A primary goal for Braking Point is to make the experience accessible and encourage new players to continue engaging with the game.
Cooper noted, “Many new players naturally start with Braking Point.” He continued, “We aimed to create a smooth transition from completing the story mode into exploring the game`s other features.” He highlighted the mode`s success, mentioning, “Braking Point has a significantly high completion rate among players who begin it.”
“Upon finishing Braking Point,” Cooper explained, “players will experience a tailored process allowing them to seamlessly carry their Konnersport team progress directly into the beginning of either Career mode option.”
The game encourages replayability, as the story`s outcomes can vary depending on the player`s choices regarding the driver in specific events, potentially prompting a second playthrough.
For veteran players seeking a greater challenge, a new fourth difficulty level has been introduced to Braking Point. The existing three difficulties have also been adjusted to better cater to a wider spectrum of player skill levels. A notable enhancement, seemingly small but impactful, is the integration of Nvidia Audio2Face technology. This innovation generates realistic facial animations directly from recorded speech, allowing drivers` faces to be fully animated during segments like `Meet The Press` when viewed from a frontal perspective. This technology is also applied to characters in the My Team mode, including facility heads.
In an unprecedented move for the series, F1 25 will feature a crossover with the upcoming Brad Pitt film, simply titled `F1.` This movie introduces the fictional Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP). At the game`s release, players can select APXGP for their My Team career or include them as the 11th team in Driver Career mode. Following the game`s launch (and the movie`s release on June 25), special gameplay moments tied to key movie scenes will be available, offering rewards like liveries, suits, and helmets seen in the film.
Beyond the updates to the My Team mode and the usual yearly improvements, F1 25 is shaping up to be the most comprehensive racing simulator released by the developers to date. Players can look forward to experiencing it firsthand from May 30th.
