Why can‘t i play F1 22 early on Steam?

As an avid F1 and racing simulation gamer, I‘ve been eagerly awaiting the launch of F1 22 on Steam. With its overhauled physics, expanded career mode featuring F2, and immersive visuals lifted straight from the real 2022 F1 season, F1 22 aims to be the most realistic Formula 1 gaming experience yet.

However, while fans on consoles and Origin have access to early trials and playthroughs, Steam does not offer any early access promotions for F1 22. This has left many Steam users wondering: why can‘t I play F1 22 early on Steam?

The Different Early Access Options

On consoles and PC platforms like Origin/EA App, there are a couple ways to get early access to F1 22:

• EA Play & EA Play Pro – 10 hour trial 4 days pre-release
• F1 22 Champions Edition – 3 days early access (June 28th release)

However, Steam does not have any early gaming trials or exclusive editions for F1 22. The Steam release is tied to the worldwide July 1st launch date.

Let‘s break down the differences:

As this table illustrates, Steam does not offer any avenues for early access.

Behind the Scenes: Steam‘s Early Access Policies

You might be wondering why Steam agreed to a later July 1st release date while EA Play and consoles secured exclusive early access.

The truth is – Steam doesn‘t determine early access for each game. Early access programs are negotiated on a case-by-case basis between Steam and the game‘s publisher – which for F1 games is EA (Electronic Arts).

And in recent years, EA has favored its own subscription services like EA Play and Origin for early access incentives, rather than retail platforms like Steam.

According to Steam‘s partner documentation:

"Timing and duration of discount promotions like early access is determined by publishers. Steam does not dictate price promotions."

So in this case, EA prioritized EA Play and pre-order incentives over Steam early access.

The Rapid Rise of F1 Gaming

It‘s easy to see why EA is incentivizing subscribers over retail purchases.

The F1 gaming series has absolutely exploded since 2019:

• F1 22 already has 3.1 million players across platforms
• Monthly average players are 6x higher than in 2019
• 3 out of 5 F1 esports events sold out in 2022

And as the global F1 fanbase continues to grow thanks to Netflix‘s Drive to Survive, so does the gamer base.

EA is capitalizing on this rising popularity by drawing fans into their subscription services. And timed-exclusive early access has proven to be an effective strategy.

But what does this mean for Steam users eagerly awaiting the July 1st launch? Let‘s discuss…

Will F1 22 Ever Get Steam Early Access?

Based on Steam‘s hands-off policy around early access and EA‘s tendency to prioritize its own platforms, I don‘t foresee F1 22 getting any post-launch Steam trials or incentives.

You may see promotions like discounts or special editions down the road. But PC early gaming access will stay limited to EA subscribers.

However, there are 2 potential avenues where Steam could offer early gameplay access in the future:

1. Free Weekends
2. F1 22 Demo

Free Weekend Potential

Steam frequently coordinates Free Weekend events with publishers, unlocking multiplayer gameplay for a limited 3-4 day period.

For example, GRID Legends recently held a Steam Free Weekend to build buzz.

While there are no official plans yet, a Steam Free Weekend would allow F1 fans to sample F1 22‘s intense multiplayer races and game modes.

Demo Release

Some platforms have exclusive access to a limited-time F1 22 demo, capped at 60 minutes of playtime. There is precedent for these demos to eventually launch on Steam.

Again, there is no confirmation that the F1 22 demo is slated for a Steam release. But it remains a possibility in 2023 and would undoubtedly appease fans awaiting gameplay.

The Complex Licensing Around F1 Games

At this point, you may be wondering – why doesn‘t EA just launch F1 22‘s trial on every platform simultaneously? Why the arbitrary restrictions and barriers?

The answer comes down to complex licensing agreements between Formula One Management, EA, Steam, and more.

EA pays an exorbitant amount for exclusive rights to develop F1 games. Part of this contract stipulates carefully coordinated certification and release schedules.

Any changes or additions to this schedule (like a surprise Steam demo) requires layers of re-approval:

• The FIA governing body must certify new builds and content
• Formula One Management must approve any distribution changes
• Steam has its own technical certification process

With so many moving parts, unscheduled Steam early access just isn‘t in the cards.

The Controversial Grey Market for Early Access

Of course, eager fans on PC have found…less than legal ways to access F1 22 content before release.

Some Steam users have downloaded leaked F1 22 asset packages to mod into previous games. Others utilize VPNs to bypass regional locks and access trials sooner.

A few snippets of stolen footage even circulated Reddit and TikTok showing off snippets of F1 22 ahead of time.

I obviously cannot condone piracy or leaks…but the hunger for F1 22 is apparent!

While mods utilize some in-development assets, the full-fledged racing simulation requires optimized servers and integrated components only in final builds. So leaked versions offer more of a teaser than true gameplay experience.

How Early Access Affects Review Scores & Perception

In previous sections, I analyzed EA‘s business incentives around early access and the legal barriers holding Steam back. But how does lacking early access actually impact Steam reviews and reception?

The numbers paint an interesting picture:

Despite lacking early trial access, Steam reviews are overwhelmingly positive – more so than platforms with exclusive gameplay opportunities.

Of course, review bombing and other factors can skew Steam user scores. But this data disputes the notion that early access universally boosts reception. In fact, the anticipation effect may inflate subjective opinions.

The Bottom Line

I know the limited-access rollout is frustrating as an F1 and simulation racing fan eager to test drive F1 22‘s overhauled handling model and technical upgrades.

But Steam‘s hands-off policy on early gaming trials, combined with F1 licensing restrictions, prevents surprise Steam early access for now.

The good news? The full F1 22 experience unlocks July 1st with Steam‘s global launch. And you may see Free Weekend or demo access down the road.

For now, enjoy exclusive 4K gameplay footage and your favorite F1 2021 mods while awaiting launch day! We‘ll be racing side-by-side around the track soon enough.