It's hard to believe that the year is almost coming to a close already, but Christmas is almost on us at last. With that being said, let's look forward to what's going to be on offer next year when it comes to brand new racing games.
There are some huge racing franchises that are seeing another instalment in their series hit shelves in 2022. Here are the five that we're anticipating the most!
Need for Speed
We don't have a title, any gameplay or a trailer to go off, but we know a Need For Speed title is on the way.
Heat was a step in the right direction for NFS, so we're excited to see what Criterion can bring to the table next now that is is free from Battlefield 2042 duty.WATCH BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emUfQF-eMdQ
This will be the first NFS title solely developed by Criterion since Most Wanted in 2012. The former Burnout developers know how to make an exciting racing game, so we're hopeful ahead of the next NFS. The graphics and sound are enough to warrant a purchase by themselves, so let's hope the gameplay is fun too.
We don't have a full release date yet, but 2022 seems likely given its delays up until now.
F1 2022
While it hasn't been officially announced yet, F1 2022 is obviously going to launch next year. Codemasters continued to impress us with the launch of F1 2021 this year and we're sure it will continue. F1 2022 will be the first Formula 1 game fully developed under the new EA-Codemasters partnership and we're interested to see what this will bring.
The feature we're most looking forward to seeing again is probably Braking Point. The story-driven single-player mode was a blast to experience in F1 2021 and we can't wait to see how the narrative evolves in 2022. Plus, a 23-race calendar next year means that we've got a lot of circuits to enjoy.
Forza Motorsport
Although it doesn't have a release date yet, we're including Forza Motorsport here as it could well be released next year. We've only got a teaser trailer to go off, but if previous Forza's are anything to go by, this will be a huge game. The graphics shown in the trailer look stunning and the brief gameplay at Laguna Seca looks intense.
This will be the first main series Forza game on the Series X and be an Xbox exclusive. Horizon 5 has proven how gorgeous games can look on the new consoles, and the prospect of a more sim-focused racer is hugely exciting. Not least because Turn 10 have promised a deeper experience in multiplayer.
Forza keeps going from strength to strength both in quality and quantity of features. We're sure that Forza Motorsport won't disappoint, whenever it lands.
GRID Legends
Announced during EA Play Live, this title came as a very welcome surprise for racing fans. GRID is a racing series that has a long legacy but hasn't lived up to the name recently. After the EA takeover though, more funding can be poured into GRID.
The reveal trailer certainly showed as much, with GRID Legends boasting a full story mode. The story also features actors such as Ncuti Gatwa staring in its roles. The racing here looks fun as well, with new racing types such as Boost and Elimination. Multi-class racing also makes its debut in GRID, meaning that you can race trucks alongside supercars.
GRID Legends has an official release date of 25 February 2022 so will be the first of our highly anticipated games to be released. We've already got hands-on with a preview build of the title and it is looking very promising indeed!
Gran Turismo 7
Forza's arch-rival Gran Turismo appears to have the one-up on the Xbox series for the moment. While we don't know when Forza Motorsport will be released, Gran Turismo 7 is set to launch in March. GT7 will also be available on both the PlayStation 4 and 5 systems, giving millions of players the chance to experience it.
GT7 looks like it could well be the best GT title ever and boasts a huge amount of cars and tracks to race with. The feature list is massive as well, as the main menu shown in one of the recent trailers boasts more than we've ever seen before.
Polyphony look as though they're taking full advantage of the PS5's capabilities and we can't wait to experience GT7 in March 2022! The Real Driving Simulator looks to be well and truly back in its full glory.