Technical innovation is more limited in this year’s series entry.
With that being said, there are key upgrades.
Equally, the drivers get a facelift.
It’s fully cross-gen, and on PC and newer consoles it’s capable of ray tracing.
Is it a radical difference from last year’s effort?
These are closely remodelled - with results now better reflecting their style in the 2024 campaign.
Next up, a lucky quartet of tracks see a complete overhaul this year.
Comparing F1 23 to F1 24, elevation changes are factored into every incline, turn and strait.
So for example, the opening chicane of Circuit De Spa will handle differently to last year.
New materials are deployed for the asphalt, the gravel, the metal road barriers.
There’s a more modern look to the off-track fairings, too.
And meanwhile Jeddah Corniche features a more colourful steak of trackside artwork.
Visually speaking it’s not always a dramatic difference on every corner.
In terms of platform comparisons, the series history is solid and so it is here in F1 24.
All target 60 frames per second well though, with identical visual features.
The drop in pixel count is seamless.
On Series S meanwhile, we have a less impressive 1080p target in place.
It’s a softer picture on Series S though, no doubt.
These moments also often pay a clear price in performance, with frame-rates delving down to the 20-40fps range.
Actual gameplay switches to typical rasterised techniques for reflections, shadows, and ambient occlusion otherwise.
First up, reflections.
However, this SSR approach has limits in simulating material interaction.
More subtle is the impact of ray traced ambient occlusion and DDGI.
These fill out the corners of the cockpit with refracted colour and shade from the driver.
Performance is a non-issue in F1 24 where it matters.
There’s simply no problem on PS5, Series X or S in hitting 60fps during a race.
Across the board, on every track, these machines truly deliver during gameplay, just like last year.
Even Xbox Series S is a robust performer, albeit thanks to its unambitious 1080p target.
The only problem - as with F1 23 last year - is the cutscenes.
Too many scripted moments drop into the 20-30fps region, with full-screen tearing in view.
All of this applies for PS5, Series X and S in equal measure.
The good news is that F1 24 continues to hit the target where it really matters: in gameplay.
Otherwise the quality of the experience is intact.
Looking to the future, we’re promised “further visual enhancements” are coming post launch.
