Virtual racers hitting the circuits in F1 25 have a new reason to adjust their setups. Codemasters and EA Sports have rolled out Update 1.06 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, bringing a suite of fixes and, crucially, targeting some key gameplay irritations reported by players since the game`s launch.
Perhaps the most anticipated change addresses the notoriously tricky wet weather handling. Navigating rain-soaked asphalt in F1 25 could often feel unpredictable, with players sometimes struggling to find pace compared to the AI. A specific culprit identified was the behavior of the automatic gearbox, particularly its tendency to short-shift aggressively in higher gears when moisture was present. This update specifically targets this, adjusting the automatic transmission`s logic in wet conditions to reduce premature gear changes. The aim here is simple: enable players using automatic shifts to compete more effectively against the AI when the clouds open up.
Another area receiving attention involves the car`s interaction with the track surface itself. It appears a subtle discrepancy existed where player-controlled cars suffered greater friction from underbody scraping than their AI competitors. This wasn`t just an aesthetic issue; this extra friction could subtly, but significantly, impact a player`s top speed, creating an unintended handicap. Patch 1.06 tackles this by implementing minor adjustments to front ride height and floor friction levels, designed to reduce the penalty associated with this underbody contact and, in theory, level the playing field against the AI.
Beyond these core handling and physics refinements, Update 1.06 also irons out a number of other kinks reported in the simulation. Career Mode players will be relieved to see fixes for bizarre scenarios such as teams attempting to field a peculiar three-driver lineup or the game failing to offer the player a contract at the end of a season – situations that could abruptly derail carefully planned championship campaigns.
Graphical inconsistencies and minor visual bugs haven`t escaped the developers` notice either. Fixes include resolving issues like cars briefly dropping into the track surface when exiting the garage at Bahrain and correcting visual glitches on specific car models, such as Fernando Alonso`s. Audio and engineer communications have also seen polish, improving the accuracy of radio messages regarding race strategy, tire wear, and car condition.
Additional technical improvements are included, such as updating the OpenVR SDK for PC players, improving visual quality in specific camera views (like Far Chase on PS5 Pro), updating the AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution implementation, and general stability enhancements. Various UI improvements and fixes for specific, less common issues (like using Rewind in the pit lane or ERS transfer in cinematic sequences) round out the patch notes.
In summary, F1 25 Update 1.06 appears to be a focused effort on refining the fundamental driving experience, particularly in challenging wet conditions, while also addressing several persistent bugs that could detract from the immersion and fairness of the simulation. Players should find the cars behaving more predictably and consistently, especially when rain tires are equipped, and the subtle physics disadvantages against the AI should now be a thing of the past.
