Few sports games try to hook players in with a true story mode. Those that have, like FIFA and Madden, often fail to make an engaging or interesting journey for players.
Which is why it was such a surprise that F1 2021 launched by announcing a story mode as the big flagship addition for the new year.
So, what is Braking Point? And will it be any good?
F1 2021 review
We've had the chance to sit down and review F1 2021. From Braking Point to My Team and even the liveries, but does it live up to the hype?
Read our full review here, or watch our review video below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSWEyEl7-js
Latest news - First look at Braking Point
We have had the chance to get hands-on with the first hour of Braking Point. If you can't wait until release day, then check out the video below.
WARNING: Minor spoilers ahead!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T06pAT0b1eE
New trailer shows off Braking Point's universe
The biggest F1 2021 trailer so far has arrived, and with it a look at the depth of Braking Point. From its three-season arc to dining table negotiations, paddock disagreements, and driver press conferences, it looks set to be a must-play mode this year!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S985xPL9Xn0
Braking Point
The launch trailer burst onto the scene in April, and certainly got the blood pumping.
New names were introduced to F1 players, and a familiar voice featured heavily, and no we’re not talking about Crofty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrJ8PddAMIw
Bringing back Devon Butler, the antagonist from the F2 integration in F1 2019, was a masterstroke to get the fans and memes behind the new game mode.
Other than that, and a few pieces around the Deluxe Edition, little was known until now.
A linear story
Braking Point will be a linear and self-contained story. Devon Butler and the other characters won’t bleed over into Career Mode or My Team. For us that’s a bit of a shame, how great would it be to sign Butler as your #2 driver in My Team?
So it’s a singular mode, fine. How is it structured? Braking Point will put the player in the shoes of Aiden Jackson, an up-and-coming Formula 2 driver and starts in the 2019 F2 season, so expect to be battling it out with Nyck De Vries, Mick Schumacher, and Nicholas Latifi.
The story will then take you up into Formula 1, if you are successful, and through the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Once promoted, Jackson will have the chance to sign with Racing Point (who will turn into Aston Martin), Alfa Romeo, AlphaTauri, Haas, or Williams. So there is no quick path to glory and taking over from Lewis Hamilton here!
Other than that, Codemasters are keeping things pretty close to their chest. We do know that one scenario is set at the Chinese Grand Prix, and is the reason that track will be included in the F1 2021 game.
Codies, known far more for their racing development rather than storytelling, took inspiration from their Feeder Series in F1 2019 as well as the ground-swell of support for Netflix’s Drive To Survive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVrUTeh6jPQ
Using behind the scenes storytelling as well as on-track action, creating a well populated cast of characters from Casper Akkerman, an older driver, to team bosses, partners and more.
With a story written by professional writers and visuals produced by an outside company, Codemasters has really not held back on the production quality of this mode.
Will Braking Point work?
We certainly hope so. Despite the wider gaming history working against them, Codemasters showed in F1 2019 that this kind of junior ranks rise could work.
Their efforts are helped by the young generation of F1 stars coming through, encouraging more fans to get invested in F2 and the journey up to