EA Sports has announced that it will not release F1 26, the next instalment of the annual racing game franchise.
Instead, the publisher plans to release a paid expansion for F1 25, the fifth F1 title since EA Sports acquired UK-based developer Codemasters in 2021.
According to a release, the paid expansion will include the eleven teams and drivers competing in the 2026 World Championship in addition to aligning ‘with the sport’s major changes.’
For 2026, the real-life motorsport series will overhaul its aerodynamic and engine regulations, aiming to enhance on-track action.
EA Sports says the next ‘full game’ will launch in 2027. Described as a ‘deeply authentic and innovative representation of the action,’ the new title will feature new ways to play and build on existing experiences enjoyed by both casual and professional sim racers.
“With Formula 1’s momentum on and off the track, now is the perfect time for us to look ahead and build for the future,” said Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director at Codemasters.
“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.”
Details on the paid expansion’s release date and its pricing will be announced in 2026.
The Impact of F1 Esports
Since the conclusion of this year’s F1 Sim Racing World Championship, information on what the future holds for the sim racing circuit has yet to be revealed.
The 2025 edition of the annual championship took place on F1 24 was won by Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing driver Jarno Opmeer. The Dutch driver is regarded as one of the best F1 Sim Racing drivers of all time, having won the title in 2020 and 2021.
With ten F1 teams involved in the F1 Sim Racing circuit, drivers and fans alike continue to wait on whether an official championship backed by the motorsport series will take place.
