R.I.P. F1 Mobile Racing, F1 22 And PS3/360-Era Lobbies

R.I.P. F1 Mobile Racing, F1 22 And PS3 360-Era Lobbies RD.jpg
As the promotion for the upcoming EA SPORTS F1 24 begins to ramp up, older Formula 1 titles are being removed from stores.

Images: EA/Codemasters

You can no longer buy EA SPORTS F1 22 digitally.

Perhaps no great shakes, seen by some as the series’ nadir in recent years, developers Codemasters Birmingham tried to adapt to new real-world rules. Safe to say, the vehicle handling was not to everyone’s tastes, and neither were the collectable sofas or wallpaper patterns…

F1 22 F1 Life wallpaper


Still, as has been the cycle in recent years, an element of gaming history is no more, as F1 22 is not available to purchase on PC, PlayStation Store or Xbox’s Microsoft Store.

Those who own it will be able to re-download, but henceforth a used physical console copy is the only way of purchasing it afresh.

It makes the most recent EA SPORTS F1 23 as the only currently available official game of the world championship, ahead of the F1 24 launch – titles such as F1 2020 and F1 2021 are long since removed.

EA SPORTS F1 23 on PlayStation Plus​

For those with a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, between today (5th March 2024) and 1st April 2024, last season’s F1 game is available to download and play for no additional charge – provided you are subscribed to PlayStation Plus.

This is regardless of subscription tier, all active members have the option of adding the platform – which includes a continuation of the Braking Point story – to their library.

F1 23 Braking Point 2

PS3 and 360-era Lobbies Switched Off This Month​

While removing a game from sale that was released less than two years ago is a shocker, perhaps in some ways, is it astonishing that some of the F1 titles from over a decade ago are still online?

You can still fire up a PlayStation 3, PC and Xbox 360 and race online in the following: F1 2011, F1 2012, F1 2013, F1 2014 and F1 Race Stars.

F1 2013 game classic content. Image, Codemasters


Within fan circles of the Codemasters-era F1 games, 2013 is particularly notable as it is – to date – the only release to feature classic tracks alongside classic cars. Race Stars was a valid attempt at reaching a younger audience, with a Mario Kart-inspired spin-off.

Online life support will finally be switched off on 21st March 2024 for all five.

F1 Mobile Racing Closed For Good​

The accessible official Formula 1 driving game for phones and tablets has also been culled. The contemporary racer received new content as recently as October 2023 when the Las Vegas Circuit was added.

F1 Mobile Racing dead - Image, EA

The free-to-play title included the 2023 season and a car upgrade system that the PC and console F1 23 title borrowed from for the F1 World mode. It was created by Eden Games with Codemasters’ stewardship and latterly EA’s oversight.

It was removed from the (iOS) App Store and (Android) Google Play Store on 23rd February 2024 and will become inaccessible on 24th May 2024.

What are your thoughts on digital game preservation? Let us know in the comments below.
About author
Thomas Harrison-Lord
Thomas Harrison-Lord
A freelance sim racing, motorsport and automotive journalist. Credits include Autosport Magazine, Motorsport.com, RaceDepartment, Overtake, Traxion and TheSixthAxis.

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Comments

Large Style
You can no longer buy EA SPORTS F1 22 digitally.
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Damn, is that the fastest delisting of a racing game ever? That better not start a trend of delisting all non-latest iterations of racing games - it's bad enough to pay a fortune every year if you chose to, but obviously worse if you're more-or-less forced to if you can't grab a previous title in the series.

Hopefull that tactic backfires massively and they'll lose revenue by the people who otherwise would've bought the cheaper previous season(s) hopefully not caving in and getting the current one instead, leaving EA in a lose-lose situation.

EA finding new lows, even for them.
 
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M
Large Style said:
Damn, is that the fastest delisting of a racing game ever? That better not start a trend of delisting all non-latest iterations of racing games - it's bad enough to pay a fortune every year if you chose to, but obviously worse if you're more-or-less forced to if you can't grab a previous title in the series.

Hopefull that tactic backfires massively and they'll lose revenue by the people who otherwise would've bought the cheaper previous season(s) hopefully not caving in and getting the current one instead, leaving EA in a lose-lose situation.

EA finding new lows, even for them.
Click to expand...
F1 23 had a 75% discount sale one month ago. There's no need to buy outdated games anymore when it comes to pricing.
 
caiopolus96
Majuh said:
F1 23 had a 75% discount sale one month ago. There's no need to buy outdated games anymore when it comes to pricing.
Click to expand...
So they buy the developer, raise the standard price game 350% then give you a 75% discount before delist the game. It's not a good deal for us.
 
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Large Style
Majuh said:
F1 23 had a 75% discount sale one month ago. There's no need to buy outdated games anymore when it comes to pricing.
Click to expand...
So when F1 24 is released are we going to be able to buy F1 23 at 75% discount? No.

So when F1 24 is released can we buy F1 22 (or older) at a reasonably depreciated price without having to rely on a sale? No.

So if EA decide to delist previous iterations, essentially forcing you to buy full price when the game is actually relevant (current season) when it's generally not in a sale because you have no other option, is that reasonable or just good business practice? Also no.

Yes sales are great if you happen to catch them, and even I bought '23 during the Las Vegas trial period & sale last year, but my point was that it's a scummy and almost bullying d**k move to take options (and game preservation) away purely to hold our gaming needs at high expense ransome. Especially so on a yearly franchise that has more peaks and dips in form than an extreme rollercoaster.
 
M
Large Style said:
So when F1 24 is released are we going to be able to buy F1 23 at 75% discount? No.

So when F1 24 is released can we buy F1 22 (or older) at a reasonably depreciated price without having to rely on a sale? No.

So if EA decide to delist previous iterations, essentially forcing you to buy full price when the game is actually relevant (current season) when it's generally not in a sale because you have no other option, is that reasonable or just good business practice? Also no.

Yes sales are great if you happen to catch them, and even I bought '23 during the Las Vegas trial period & sale last year, but my point was that it's a scummy and almost bullying d**k move to take options (and game preservation) away purely to hold our gaming needs at high expense ransome. Especially so on a yearly franchise that has more peaks and dips in form than an extreme rollercoaster.
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Why would you want to buy F1 23 after F1 24 is released, though? If you're interested in these games, just buy them in a sale during the year when they're actually the current game in the series. If you can't be bothered buying the game until it's delisted, you weren't interested enough in it in the first place.
 
Large Style
Majuh said:
Why would you want to buy F1 23 after F1 24 is released, though?
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Sometimes sequels are worse than previous iterations. Some people may not care about having the latest version. Some people may not be able to afford the latest version. Some people might not want to have to wait for a sale to be able to play any F1 game, which is especially important if you try to mirror real life races at home while they're on IRL. Some people are collectors and / or care about game preservation. Some people just despise being essentially forced or heavily coerced due to overly-restrictive options as it's a dick move and poor business strategy.
If you can't be bothered buying the game until it's delisted, you weren't interested enough in it in the first place.
Click to expand...
Not necessarily - that's just your opinion and take on the matter, so can't be argued as if it were fact.
 

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