Future of EA Sports' F1 series remains uncertain until 2027

Electronic Arts has not yet decided whether it will continue to develop games from the EA Sports franchise EA Sports F1 after the release of F1 25, leaving the future of the series produced by Codemasters since 2009 uncertain. Despite rumors of renewing the license with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) until 2027, the company denies having made any definitive decision.

In contact with the website Insider-Gaming, a representative of EA initially confirmed the activation of a contractual clause that would guarantee the use of the F1 license for another two years, extending the partnership until at least 2027. However, after the article was published, the same spokesperson backtracked and stated that "the information provided is not correct" and that the company "has not activated any contractual extension at this time."

F1, in turn, chose not to comment on the case.

This impasse reinforces recent statements by CEO Andrew Wilson, who stated, during a meeting with investors, that the company intends to "reduce the focus on licenses and prioritize franchises with greater growth potential of their own," a directive already reflected in the closure of the EA Sports WRC line and the decrease in investment in licensed rally titles.

Meanwhile, the newly released EA Sports F1 25, launched on May 31, 2025, could be decisive for the future of the partnership. The title brought graphic updates, improved AI, and enhancements in the career mode, but still faces criticism for limited innovation and content repetition compared to its predecessors.

The F1 franchise from Codemasters, acquired by EA in 2021 for US$ 1.2 billion, has always been one of the company's most technical bets in the racing simulation segment. If the renewal does not happen, it would be another sign of EA's retreat in the licensed sports segment, as has already occurred with the FIFA series, which has been replaced by the new EA Sports FC.

The lack of confirmation for the development of a possible EA Sports F1 26 indicates that, even with a solid fan base and good sales reception, the future of the franchise will depend not only on the commercial performance of F1 25, but also on the new corporate strategy adopted by Electronic Arts.