Codemasters lines up F1 2010 for September start

While Formula One fans don't have long to wait until the cars roll onto the grid for the first race of the 2010 season in Bahrain, they will have a little longer to wait for the championship's official game. Today, Codemasters confirmed that the 2010 iteration of its nascent Formula One franchise will arrive for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC in September. This marks the first outing for the publisher's F1 games on high-definition platforms after the commercial success of the PSP and Wii F1 2009 games last year.

F1 2010 is based on the publisher's Ego engine, which was also behind previous hit racing games Race Driver: Grid and Colin McRae Dirt 2, and is being developed at Codemasters Studios Birmingham. It will be the first official Formula One game on the PC platform for eight years and the first-ever official F1 game to appear on the Xbox 360.

The game will feature all the drivers, teams, cars and tracks from the 2010 Formula One season, re-created with the help of "unprecedented access to Formula One teams and drivers." The Ego engine has been further developed for F1 2010, according to the publisher, "to accurately re-create the unique aerodynamics and handling" of Formula One cars.

F1 2010 will feature a variety of modes, including an "innovative" Career mode, as well as Time Trials, Championship, and Grand Prix options, although details of these modes have not yet been made public. The publisher has also promised a "highly advanced damage model, fully dynamic weather system, and extensive competitive multiplayer options."

More on the game is expected in the coming weeks, so keep it tuned to GameSpot for more news and previews as they emerge.