F1 2019 delivers Codemasters' most realistic visuals yet

Is F1 2019 the most photo-realistic racing sim of its kind? Developer Codemasters has developed some gorgeous games this generation after all: Dirt Rally 2.0 is among the best in its field and later this year we’ll see Grid rebooted on PS4 and Xbox One. But between those games, the F1 series is where we really see the team’s EGO engine get an upgrade each year, iterated upon with every release. There’s a sense of evolution rather than revolution then, but this latest F1 offering is definitely impressive.

While the graphical experience scales as you may expect across the console power ladder, it would be a disservice to Codemasters to call any version a disappointment visually. Each in their own way, every console is nicely optimised for. Loading up a race, whether that’s Yas Marina with its gorgeous volumetric lights on lamps or the classic Spa circuit, the quality of materials translates to every system. A physically-based pipeline is at the heart of the EGO engine’s achievements in Dirt 2.0, and it’s very much in play here too. At first glance, the slick, dewy effect on tyres and the way rain splatters against car bodies creates an authentic, natural effect.

Lighting gets a big focus from Codemasters too, with a new volumetric system, marking a particular upgrade over 2018 which could look a little flat. This time, every roadside lamp and headlight casts proper beams of light outwards. Atmospheric effects like dust and dirt now fill in the air between too. It’s the final piece in the puzzle in bringing the series up to par with the genre’s best. Combined with the HDR implementation – which was already solid – it’s genuine showcase material for modern living room displays.

There are some minus points that can’t go overlooked. The camera motion blur is great but the team’s use of temporal anti-aliasing returns, leaving a light banding trail. It only happens in select moments, and honestly for the majority of the duration, it’s impossible to catch. However, up against fences, or anything with a high density of detail, you’ll see some light artefacting as a result. That goes for any console, though PC does at least have the option to switch it off entirely.

There’s also the goings-on outside the racing – the bits you’ll most likely skip anyway as you try to get to the action. The engineering team are especially glaring and find themselves deep into the uncanny valley with their stiff, emotionless faces and rigid body motion capture. Perhaps it’s a nitpick, especially after impressing so much with the core gameplay visuals. The on-track action is still standout, and ultimately, that’s what counts.