F1® 24 - Pre-Order Bonus (DLC) (PS5)

F1 24 is Codemasters' annual Formula 1 simulation-lite, rebuilt around an overhauled handling model and a revamped driver career mode. If you're coming in expecting a full generational leap, the Mixed Steam rating (74% positive across nearly 19,000 reviews, Metacritic sitting at 72) tells you upfront: this is an iterative release, not a ground-up redesign. The pre-order DLC adds a F1 World Starter Pack and 5,000 PitCoin to your account, which gives you a small head-start in F1 World, the persistent online hub mode that gates cosmetic upgrades and car parts behind a grind wall. It is not a gameplay changer. The handling model is the biggest talking point. Codemasters reworked tyre physics and suspension response, and depending on your wheel setup or pad sensitivity preferences, you will either find it more planted and rewarding than F1 23, or frustratingly loose at the limit. Controller players on default assists tend to settle in within a few sessions; sim-focused wheel users report longer calibration curves and some residual inconsistency in mid-corner balance, particularly at high-speed complexes like Suzuka and Silverstone. The AI, running on the same difficulty slider system from prior entries, is serviceable at mid-tiers but still prone to late-braking aggression that feels more scripted than intelligent at higher settings. Career mode adds the ability to play as real 2024 grid drivers rather than a created rookie, which is a legitimate quality-of-life addition for players who want to step into Verstappen or Leclerc and chase constructor points directly. The My Team mode returns with familiar resource-upgrade loops, though the mid-to-late game depth here has not materially expanded from F1 23. For a strategy-minded player who enjoys planning tyre compounds, pit windows, and development trees across a full 24-race season, there is still a solid 40-60 hour campaign here. Just do not expect the management layer to surprise you if you have run previous entries. F1 World, where the pre-order PitCoin lands, is the live-service component. It bundles weekly challenges, ranked sprint events, and a cosmetic economy. The 5,000 PitCoin covers roughly one to two premium cosmetic items depending on pricing at any given point, so it softens the initial unlock wall without eliminating it. The mode's monetisation is real and visible; the Starter Pack gives you some early car parts to skip the grind's most tedious opening phase. Whether that matters to you depends on how much time you plan to spend in multiplayer versus offline career. Steam Workshop support is listed but limited in practical scope compared to, say, a Paradox title's mod ecosystem. Community livery and helmet packs are the primary draw, and they do meaningfully extend the visual variety across a full season. VR support is present and functional for those running capable headsets, a genuine differentiator versus console-only play. Split-screen and LAN co-op round out the feature set for couch and LAN-party scenarios. Bottom line: if you are a returning F1 series player who races annually and the 2024 calendar is your target, F1 24 does the job. The pre-order DLC is a minor accelerant for F1 World's grind, not a reason to buy or skip. New players would benefit from the Starter Pack's head-start more than veterans. Anyone expecting a meaningful sim depth jump from F1 23 will likely land in the dissatisfied 26% of that review split.

Diego · Scout Team

Strategy & simulation

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