We’ve had less than two months of racing in F1 Manager 2024 yet already players are writing off the latest F1 management title. Despite the new features, all-new game mode, and plenty of other improvements compared to its predecessors, the levels of criticism around the game only heighten with each and every update. So how much of this is warranted, and how much is just another example of overreacting? Let’s take a look!
New race, same result
F1 Manager 2024 boasts several new features that help it stand out from the previous two games in the series. Create a Team finally hands players the keys to their very own F1 team, while the all-new mentality hub builds upon the confidence system introduced last year.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to improvements to F1 Manager 2024, yet once you head out into a race weekend it does appear not much has changed. This sounds like a criticism, but in truth what do fans expect?
Formula 1 is a heavily structured racing series. Once cars hit the track, besides crashes, mechanical failures, and inclement weather there’s not a lot that can change the order other than overtaking.
Off the track, it’s a similar story. The 2024 F1 calendar is locked in, with the game unable to change the order of races due to licensing. This also means every following season will have the same races, in the same order, including which weekends have sprint races. Sure, some players use third-party mods to tweak the game, but this can lead to unintentional errors being created.
On the surface, this does seem boring, but once again it’s the game falling victim to being too representative of the real thing. Without the F1 licence, players could randomise the order of races. But having Louis Baconton racing wheel-to-wheel with Matt Perstairon just doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
So yeah, F1 Manager 2024 does feel like a new race with the same result, but honestly, what can Frontier do to change that? F1 fans won’t like the lack of representation if the licence goes, while right now sections of the community want features that aren’t possible. It’s a Catch-22, with no real winners either way.
So putting the lack of new features to one side, what else are players unhappy about?
Tyre-less racing
Every game can suffer from visual bugs. Whether that’s a wall suddenly turning invisible or a whole city popping in and out of existence, it can be jarring when the world around you changes at a moment’s notice.
Since F1 Manager 2024’s 1.6 update, players have been reporting a visual bug where wheels on cars vanish while out on track. In some cases, this bug also crosses over to the pitlane and garages, but let’s stay focused on what happens between the white lines.
Image credit: wimsey100 - Frontier Forums
Yes it’s annoying to have a visual error like this, and yes it’s something that shouldn’t be in the game to begin with, but some reactions to this bug have been mind-blowing.
Players have been actively calling out Frontier over a simple visual glitch, with some even demanding refunds over it. If this was a game-breaking bug, I’d understand the outrage, but this can be fixed for players relatively easily.
Reloading the game fixes the issue for the majority, while for others it’s a case of continuing to the next race before the rubber is reapplied to the cars. As for Frontier fixing the issue, I imagine it’s a very low priority right now compared to other well-known issues, so it’ll likely be fixed in an update down the track.
What’s very important to remember is this issue is only visual. It’s not like cars are spinning off the track due to their wheel suddenly going AWOL, nor is the game crashing due to it. It’s unfortunate for those affected that the game isn’t operating at its best, but it’s nowhere near as serious as some are making out.
There are plenty of other issues that have been reported, such as sponsor payouts not working correctly and stability issues, that are far more game-affecting than tyres not displaying properly. Personally, I’d rather Frontier focused their efforts on fixing those first, and then addressing more minor issues afterwards.
That’s features and minor issues covered then, let’s now take a look at why, despite being valid, these criticisms can still be seen as harsh.
Full racing package
I’ll be the first to admit I’ve had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the F1 Manager series, but not for the reason you might be thinking. My issue with it is solely down to personal preference. I like having lots to do in games, whereas titles like F1 Manager are very linear even in races.
Despite that, however, my experience with F1 Manager 2024 has been very different. The game feels like a full racing package, with the exception being it’s not me behind the wheel crashing out in every race.
Yes it’s frustrating to watch my drivers bin it in practice right after fitting a new, expensive upgrade package, and yes finishing last in every race can drag you down after a while, but it’s all worth it when it all comes together.
Without giving too much away for an upcoming video, I’m still riding high after a fantastic result at Silverstone. That race alone showcases why an F1 management game is definitely viable, with my heart pounding watching some 1s and 0s speeding around a digital recreation of my favourite circuit.
F1 Manager 2024 always finds a way to keep me playing, despite M4JVelocity Racing languishing at the bottom of the constructors championship. Every overtake feels earned, every purple sector can be celebrated, and every race feels alive.
This is before we even get down to the finer details. During a recent practice session, I paused the game to snap a screenshot only to notice the appearance of the tyres. Not the fact they were appearing, but how they appeared.
The tyres had graining on them, with every millimetre showing the torture they had just endured out on the tarmac. You could see the story of every lap on those tyres, and this was just on a set of mediums.
During a wet race, I managed to catch the intermediate tyres with the treads almost fully smoothed out. Once again, this shows how they evolve during a race, just like the real thing.
No one will forget the appearance of Esteban Ocon’s intermediates after completing a full 57-lap race back at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, and that can now be shown in F1 Manager 2024 too. I was genuinely blown away by that level of detail, but I wouldn’t have even seen it were it not for the best thing about the game.
In the best hands
F1 Manager 2024’s most recent update added the ability to hide the UI when paused, allowing for the perfect screenshot. Frontier is one of the best developers when it comes to listening to player feedback. This isn’t the first time I’ve said this, and it definitely won’t be the last, with this being just the latest example.
The recent Planet Coaster 2 news also reinforces this. Drop and switch tracks are making their way to the series, as are so many other features recommended by the community. As a fan myself, this makes me incredibly excited and actually proves that the F1 Manager series is in the best hands with Frontier.
With the licence up for renewal this year, F1 Manager 2024 could potentially be the last to be developed by Frontier. Some have called for the franchise to be handed to a different studio moving forward but personally, I think this would not be the best move. Frontier has displayed progression with each entry in the series, so continuing the partnership should yield even more progression.
With sales not reaching the required target though, Frontier may not even pursue a licence renewal anyway. But were this to happen, it might not still be the end.
Frontier with the reins off might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. The studio is at its best when it's allowed to be creative, with the Planet series as a prime example. Removing the F1 restrictions may allow Frontier to create the race management game fans truly want, which would be a win-win for everyone.
With the Motorsport Manager series switching back to a mobile-only release, there’s a huge gap in the market right now for a race management game on PC and console. The upcoming GT Manager will cover the endurance side, but if F1 Manager disappears that leaves open-wheel racing without its own management game outside of mobile.
It might be weird to see the lack of licencing, but Frontier can still take the foundation of F1 Manager and apply it to a new series of race management titles. In doing so, they may even be able to add in the ability to manage in the support series, something F1 Manager could also arguably benefit from in future entries.
Sadly though, it may already be too late for that.
End of the race
Ultimately I do think 2024 will be the last year of F1 Manager. The financial risk taken by Frontier clearly hasn’t paid off, with the studio suffering significantly as a result. With their other series still performing well, however, removing the annual release may benefit them in the long run.
The F1 Manager series overall has truly brought F1 management to life. Putting players in the hot seat has been a long time in the making, and hopefully Frontier one day get the credit they deserve for giving fans what they’ve always dreamed of.
Regardless of what happens next, F1 Manager should go down as solid Formula 1 series. Providing competition to EA’s F1 games, the series shows off the pinnacle of motorsport in a whole new light.
The continuous progression shown each year was hugely encouraging, with the gulf in features between 2022 and 2023 particularly noteworthy. Given more years and a bit more freedom, Frontier could create the ultimate F1 management title. But with the current constraints, the studio will always remain the brunt of harsh criticism.
Do you think Frontier has made its last F1 Manager game? Let me know in the comments below!