In what is fast becoming a bit of a tradition, NACON and the Cyanide Studios team have today released Tour de France 2023 and Pro Cycling Manager 2023 to the masses. Will you be taking home that iconic yellow jersey?
If you’re a fan of cycling, then you’ll know about the annual additions to the video games market. NACON and Cyanide have made names for themselves on the back of many iterations of the Tour de France and Pro Cycling Manager games, with the latest 2023 offerings looking to one-up things.
Grab that yellow jersey
Two separate games that really should be seen as completely different entities, Tour de France 2023 is the main console and PC thrust. Pro Cycling Manager sits alongside that, exclusive to PC, catering for those who prefer the stats and figures to the hardcore racing.
We’ve been hands-on with both the Tour de France and Pro Cycling Manager games, and for us, the thrill of the race stands out in the former game. That’s not to say that there isn’t a place in the world for all the stats the management side of things delivers, but it’s much less up our street.
Tour de France 2023 then comes with hype. Available right now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC, it arrives as the official video game of the iconic Tour de France; just a few weeks from the roll-out of the real-world race.
This time around Tour de France 2023 players will get access to the 2023 route, with all the climbs, descents and dangers that brings. But it also throws in a couple of challenges too – namely the new Downhill of the Moment and Race of the Moment features.
There are more stats included this time around too, building on that of Tour de France 2022. New Agility and “Medium Mountain” scores will lead to unforeseen incidents and enrich the statistics, to undermine the various strategies developed by the players.
The official Tour de France route
Expect to have all the usual calendar staples in place too. Not only does Tour de France 2023 on Xbox, PlayStation and PC cater for the TDF route, but Classics are also included. Expect to find Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Flèche Wallonne, Paris-Nice, Critérium du Dauphiné, Paris-Tours, and Paris-Roubaix present.
With 27 World Tour and Pro Tour teams included, as well as tons of riders, there’s a chance TDF 2023 will cater for all.
And finally there has been enhancements. This come with the collision simulation, trajectories and ever more realistic artificial intelligence behavior which should help further improve gameplay. We’re cycling fans so hope that they help build the Tour de France excitement more than previous copy and paste editions.
An evolution of the series
Changes to the Tour de France formula seem minor with the 2023 edition, but all of the following should be seen as ‘new’…
- All 21 official stages of the Tour de France 2023
- Updated rider and team ratings
- New Medium Mountain and Agility rating added
- New “grupettos” between riders added
- New challenges added to Race of the Moment mode
- Distinctive bibs added for “super combative” and the best team
- Improved rider behaviour and trajectories for more realistic races
- Updated equipment items and official brands-
You’ll find Tour de France 2023 on Xbox, PlayStation and PC, available from the usual digital stores. For us Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S players, the Xbox Store awaits your cash.
Pro Cycling Manager complements the action
And then there is the PC exclusive Pro Cycling Manager 2023. Non-playable on console, PCM places you in much more of a management role, a director sportif, if you like. Your decisions will be key to the success on the road, as you look to take it to your opponents and prove yourself as the greatest team of riders the world has ever known.
Pro Cycling Manager 2023 isn’t particularly for us, but for those on PC who are looking for an alternative management game, it may well suffice. Grab it from Steam.
Our full review of Tour de France 2023 on Xbox is coming soon. Keep an eye out for it.
Tour de France 2023 on Xbox Game Description
In Tour de France 2023, trajectories and collisions have been redesigned so you can navigate within the peloton more easily. Thanks to these improvements, you can reposition yourself more easily and prepare for the end of the race as ideally as possible.
All ratings have been updated based on the results of the riders’ last season so that they reflect reality and the latest performances of professional cyclists. The Race of the Moment mode has also been updated with new challenges, races and optimisations that add more variety. There’s also a brand-new mode: Downhill of the Moment.
