Italian studio 3DClouds has unveiled Formula Legends, an exciting new racing game that draws inspiration from Art of Rally and pays homage to over 50 years of Formula 1 racing, albeit without official licenses. In an exclusive preview with IGN, the team showcased the game's progress, revealing a commendable dedication to recreating various eras of F1 racing, despite ongoing refinements to elements like AI behavior.
Formula Legends will feature 16 car models, each sporting seven distinct liveries. While the cars are stylized as chunky, toy-like caricatures, their designs pay homage to some of the most iconic racecars in history. The team has placed significant emphasis on sound, crucial for capturing the essence of older F1 cars. Additionally, the game will support modding, allowing customization of liveries, helmets, and trackside sponsors, which could greatly enhance the gaming experience.The game will include 14 circuits, each with multiple variations reflecting their evolution from the 1970s to the 2020s, all inspired by real-world locations. The story mode promises an immersive journey through F1's history with era-specific championships.
Formula Legends aims to offer nuanced racing dynamics. With 200 drivers, each with unique skill perks, players will need to consider factors like tyre wear, fuel consumption, rubbered-in racing lines, damage, and dynamic weather. How 3DClouds will balance these deeper elements with an accessible arcade-style approach remains a point of interest.
Formula Legends Reveal Screenshots
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Producer Francesco Mantovani shared that the game draws inspiration from 2023’s New Star GP but aims to strike a balance between that game's arcade style and the more nuanced gameplay of Art of Rally. “We tried to move it in line between New Star GP and Art of Rally, in terms of gameplay,” Mantovani stated. “Art of Rally was the main inspiration we took for this game. We appreciate how they worked on the camera and on the tracks.”
While 3DClouds has primarily developed licensed racing games for younger audiences, such as Paw Patrol Grand Prix and Fast & Furious: Spy Racers, Formula Legends represents a passion project, developed independently. Executive producer Roberta Migliori emphasized the studio's long-standing desire to create this game, now possible thanks to their accumulated resources. “I think it’s a game that they’ve been wanting to make for a really, really long time, and finally we have the resources to do it,” she noted, highlighting the timing with the surge in F1's popularity. “With the increasing popularity of the sport and the strong passion, it just seemed like the right moment. The game is completely self-funded thanks to other games we’ve worked on.”
The studio's proximity to Monza, known as Formula 1’s legendary Temple of Speed, has likely contributed to the game's authenticity. Formula Legends is set to launch later this year on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Switch. Although 3DClouds does not currently have Switch 2 kits, Migliori confirmed they are open to exploring that platform in the future.
