“I can confirm that the cross-gen section that you referenced is incorrect and is being amended. If you own the PS5 version of F1 22 then you will be able to play with players on both the PS4 and PS5 version of the game. You will not need to switch between versions,” read the statement by Codemasters employee, Hoo.
“Yes, the same is true for Xbox. If you own the Xbox Series version of F1 22 then you will be able to play with players on both the Xbox One and Xbox Series version of the game. You will not need to switch between versions,” read a follow-up comment.
Original article
Following the EA SPORTS F1 22 launch, which will see the game add VR, new career features, updated tracks and release on 1st July, more details have emerged about its console upgrade paths and cross-platform multiplayer.
As it stands, only the one, digital, edition of the game features any form of old-to-current gen console upgrade and cross-generational online multiplayer seen in F1 2021 is now absent.
There’s zero confirmation on an expanded cross-platform multiplayer option either as it stands, such as that seen in EA and Codemasters’ GRID Legends.
F1 22 next-gen upgrade and Smart Delivery
According to EA, only the Champions Edition of F1 22 has dual entitlement, otherwise known as a next-gen upgrade or Smart Delivery. This is also a digital-only version, so there is no way of upgrading if you buy a physical copy.
- If you buy the Champions Edition of F1 22 on PlayStation 4, this will include access to the PlayStation 5 version too.
- If you buy the Champions Edition of F1 22 on Xbox One, this will include access to the Xbox Series X|S version too.
- If you buy the Standard Edition of F1 22 on PlayStation 4, this will not include access to the PlayStation 5 version.
- If you buy the Champions Edition of F1 22 on Xbox One, this will not include the Xbox Series X|S version.
This is different to F1 2021, where no matter which version you purchased, you received access to the more powerful console versions.
Should you purchase the standard edition of F1 22 for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One and then later upgrade to a new console, you can play your existing version via backwards compatibility, but it will not be the native version. To do that, you will then have to buy the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S version separately.
DOES F1 22 HAVE CROSS-PLAY OR CROSS-PLATFORM MULTIPLAYER?
You can race online multiplayer in F1 22 across console generations. So PlayStation 4 players can race PlayStation 5 users, while Xbox One owners can compete with those on Xbox Series X|S. This is the same as F1 2021.
Cross-platform online multiplayer, however, such as that in other Codemasters racing games DIRT 5 and GRID Legends remains absent.
Originally, EA said:
“If you are playing the PlayStation 5 version of F1® 22, you will only be able to match up with and play against other players who are playing the PlayStation 5 version. The same is true for the Xbox Series X|S version of F1® 22, where only players on Xbox Series X|S will be able to play with each other.”
This article originally stated the following, based upon an EA’s communications. This is no longer the case:
No, sadly not at this stage. In a regression when compared to F1 2021, F1 22 players can only race against those with the same version.
PlayStation 4 players can only play online against other PlayStation 4 version players, for example. The same applies to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
So, on the newer consoles, PlayStation 5 owners will only be able to play against PlayStation 5 players, Xbox Series X|S owners will only be able to play against Xbox Series X|S owners.
On F1 2021, PS4 players could mix with those using the PS5 version, and Xbox One with the Xbox Series X|S version.
