Electronic Arts is back at Gamescom and is presenting its flagship: EA FC 25. The football simulation inspires millions of players and is intended to pimp up the gameplay using tactics. The developers also comment on a topic that has bothered fans of the game for years.
The popular football simulation – once the FIFA series – continues in September as EA FC 25. Since the title is sold millions of times every year at full price, EA promises a video game that breaks new ground and still remains true to itself. That sounds like a difficult balancing act. Gameplay developer Sam Rivera explains in an interview with ntv.de how it should work with EA FC 25 – and dispels a major prejudice.
Last year it was the playstyles, i.e. special skills of certain players that make passes, shots or defensive actions more effective. This year the developers are relying entirely on tactics. The whole thing is called FC IQ and makes flexible formation changes possible. With new player roles you can also ensure that the positional play, the running routes or the defensive behavior can be modified in the same position.
“To have an entertaining experience, the game has to be responsive. The animations have to look clean and authentic. There have to be a lot of mechanics that add depth and variety to the game,” said Rivera. This should be expanded with the new tactical features. “These are aimed primarily at loyal gamers who care about the details of football.”
The game's beta testing phase is currently underway, said Rivera. “The feedback so far is that there are just so many possibilities, so many permutations of what you can do in terms of tactics, that it's going to be a fun year for those who are going to compete like in Ultimate Team.”
Fear of metatactics
You should also be able to share your individual tactics with other players. A separate code is created for this purpose. Of course, this raises the concern that a metatactic, i.e. particularly well-functioning instructions, will quickly make the rounds and thus make the game monotonous – because everyone simply uses them. “There are now better tools to counteract this,” says Rivera. Those who play competitively will try to exploit certain tactics that are particularly strong and effective. “The basic formations will be more important and there will be ways to counter something like that. We have a live team that is literally already collecting feedback from the beta and trying to see if there is anything that is 'overpowered' and what we can be adjusted.” The live team would primarily listen to the player community and test it themselves.
The team has had to listen to an accusation for years. It says: The game is scripted and has momentum. Which would mean that mechanics intervene in the game to make up for a deficit even though one player is hopelessly inferior. “There is no scripting. There is no momentum,” says Rivera. “There are many variables that players don't see: Is the ball spinning? Is the ball bouncing? Is it a direct shot? Is there an opponent? How far away is the opponent? There are so many components that go into just a shot must be taken into account. We bring such real factors into our football simulation.” In real football, you would be more likely to remember a decisive goal in stoppage time than one in the 32nd minute.
Another point that would speak against Momentum is EA FC's professional player scene. “There is a consistency among the competitive players.” Year after year a similar group of players are at the top of the world. “If there really was something like scripting in the game, then this consistency wouldn't be possible.” The pros are simply players who are extremely good at mechanics and figure out what the right things are that allow them to be more successful in the game than others.
EA is present at Gamescom in Cologne for the first time in years, but is only showing its new mode “Rush”, which you can play. In the small-field five-on-five kick, all the tactical innovations don't play a role. When we tested it, “Rush” was definitely fun, but it’s unlikely to be a real game changer. We will only find out in the coming weeks whether the new tactical components will ultimately make the difference and satisfy the players.
