Sunrise, sunset, another year, and another entry into EA Sports’ long-running football franchise is upon us again, with EA Sports FC 25 right around the corner. Despite the name change last year, everything else football fans know and love about the series was mostly left intact; we called it “a true celebration of the world’s game, with plenty of content for longtime fans and newcomers alike”.
We had the opportunity to check out the recent EA Sports FC 25 Producer Showcase virtually to get the rundown on what we can expect from the next version, which promises to be bigger and better than ever.
The biggest spotlight of the Producer Showcase went to a new mode, Rush, which is a new 5v5 gameplay experience that is “tailor-made for friends”, and integrated into existing modes in FC 25. We quite enjoyed the return of the Volta mode in FC 24 last year, but that mode will no longer be present in this year’s version, due to community feedback. Instead, Rush looks to replicate that faster and more furious arcade action, while still building on the existing depth and balance of the standard 11v11 football gameplay.
“…players won’t have fixed positions either, making for more dynamic plays with fewer restrictions.”
A custom Nike-sponsored arena has been created to showcase these Rush matches, which feature 4 outfielders and 1 goalkeeper, in what is said to be a more accessible player experience. The pitch size is also sized differently, ensuring the fast pace is maintained throughout, with less ground to cover. Notably, players won’t have fixed positions either, making for more dynamic plays with fewer restrictions. As somebody who dips in and out of EA Sports FC each year for casual games with friends more often than not, this mode seems like it could be perfect for more casual players such as myself.
The match duration will be shorter, with a tiebreak, and you can forget about those boring classic red and yellow cards; the blue card penalty will result in a player being removed from the field for 1 minute. From the footage shown, it has a very arcade-y feel to it, complete with an over-the-top countdown at the start, and players from each side racing to the ball for the kick-off.
One of the other key updates to EA Sports FC 25 is FC IQ, which was noted to be the “most significant change to tactics in a decade”, bringing modern football tactics and using real-world data, to give players more control over their team. For example, there are over 50 player roles that can be assigned to players, which guide how they behave on the ball. This is said to closer represent real-world styles and make gameplay more varied match-to-match. Smart tactics will also offer tactical suggestions during a match.
For players who want to really tweak their strategy and obsess over statistics, EA Sports FC 25 looks to be incredibly detailed and satisfying. One player example was shown, Jude Bellingham, with the role of “Shadow Striker”. This attack-minded midfielder plays in the ‘hole’ behind the strikers, allowing for plenty of goal-scoring when timed well. He’s always looking to attack, has strong build-up play and consumes little energy, but on the flip side, can be vulnerable to wing play and his defense is easy to overload. The team has created a proprietary AI model to understand the various roles, and the play skills needed to perform them, analysing games and stats from real-world seasons.
That commitment to utilising real-world information flows into the career mode in a way that is sure to be exciting for fans that follow the sport in real time. A new feature called Live Start Points will let players live out the biggest real-life storylines as they happen. This means you’ll be able to navigate key moments like mid-season transfers or managerial shifts, picking up a career after those certain points and then playing the season thereafter. It is sure to make fantasy football lovers happy, as they can tackle the “what ifs” as big changes happen IRL.
Additionally, it’s great to see that EA Sports FC 25 introduces women’s football into Career Mode for the first time. This will feature the top five women’s leagues for an authentic experience across Manager and Player Career modes; the team seems truly dedicated to ensuring the experience makes sense and has gender parity with the men’s game, while still reflecting the real-world differences; for example, different budget limitations, a smaller pool of players to draft, and so on. With female players assisting with the development and feedback from female fans, I’m hoping that this all reflects on a very positive in-game experience when it comes to representation in this mode.
There’s a lot more to touch on when it comes to EA Sports FC 25, with additions to Football Ultimate Team, reimagined Clubs Mode and other ways to play, along with other new gameplay innovations that introduce unprecedented levels of customisation for players. With Rush mode being a potentially thrilling new addition, there’s no better time to be a fan of The Beautiful Game.
EA Sports FC 25 is set for release on September 27 on PlayStation, Xbox and PC, with early access going live on September 20.
About the Author
Luke Mitchell
he/him
Luke spends his time making radio, playing video games, binge-watching TV, getting unreasonably invested in wrestling, hosting bear events and hanging out with his beautiful pets.
