EA Sports FC 25 on PS5
As the legendary Zinedine Zidane talks about the importance of football intelligence in the Beautiful Game during the opening scenes of EA Sports FC 25, that is perhaps the biggest change and takeaway players should have when enjoying this year’s iteration of video game footie.
As one of the biggest annualised franchises out there, it should no longer be a surprise that much of the gameplay during the matches remains essentially the same. Your speedsters are still likely to be your best source of goals, the physically robust players will dominate in the air, and goalkeepers are still prone to flapping at innocuous shots that will render your defensive masterclass moot.
All of these make for the familiar EA Sports FC experience, but the implementation of FC IQ will fundamentally change how you appreciate the nuances of the game, especially if you take a more measured approach. With new player roles and a more expansive team management system, players have increased control over how their team plays football, from the overall build-up play down to individual instructions and even areas of the pitch they will operate in.
Managers are no longer confined to the standard positions; now, there are different variants for players to embody the roles that you may have in mind for them. Inverted Wingbacks, Shadow Strikers, Falsebacks, and Ballplaying Centre Backs are just some of the player roles the players can assume, and you can further tweak their approach within that role. What this translates into on the pitch is much more natural play that feels like the real thing, that is, if you are not constantly trying to sprint past your opponents.
If you feel like attacking down the wings, shifting the ball and the defence with speed can create overloads that can be exploited. Those into pressing can appreciate the added numbers in the middle of the park using inverting fullbacks, while there is always an incredible feeling of satisfaction to see an attacking midfielder crash the box and score from a cross or a cutback. Together with HyperMotionV, those designated players are more likely to make your tactics work in EA Sports FC 25, be it running into space, dropping back, or creating passing triangles to bamboozle your opponent. It can be hard to describe, but once you get into the action, the vision becomes much clearer.
This makes tools like Precision Passing shine even more, especially for those who are looking to go beyond the standard level of play. As your on-pitch players get smarter and more accustomed to their player roles, you will also learn how to take advantage of their intelligent movement better, leading to more goals and celebrations as the season progresses.
This makes the most difference in Career Mode, an often overlooked aspect of the game that is getting a bit more love this time. Being able to grow and shape your team tactically with the new player roles and the returning PlayStyles can be quite invigorating, and it does make it feel like a manager’s point of view will be realised with enough training and teaching. And when you ensure that your youth team is also following the philosophy, helped by a boost in development through the new 5v5 Rush mode, being the leader of a club means you are making a difference in every department and contributing where it matters—on the pitch.
Speaking of Career Mode, it is also great to see women’s football getting the recognition it deserves, with the option to take the helm in five leagues and seek glory, with the strong foundation provided by FC IQ. Player Career benefits as well, as smarter teammates means you are much more likely to succeed if you play cohesively, and being able to step into the boots of Icons is always going to be a big draw. The future addition of Live Start Points will likely get players’ attention if they are hoping to rewrite history during this 2024/25 season.
The other significant addition in EA Sports FC 25 is the aforementioned Rush mode, which kicks Volta out of the conversation with its brand of 5v5, fast-paced attacking football. Taking place on a smaller pitch, this mode is perfect for those seeking the pick-up-and-play model of old, complete with a lack of regard for tactics. Once the ball drops, it’s a race to secure the possession and engage in fluid play, as there are no set positions in Rush, and even the offside rule is tweaked to encourage constant offence.
Unfortunately, playing against the AI has been too smooth sailing thus far, with the opponent susceptible to overcommitting and being hit on the break far too often. It remains to be seen how this will play out against other human players, although high-scoring games will likely be the norm. As a whole, Rush feels wholly new and is something players will have to get used to, but then there are enough elements that make it feel like a variation of Volta that has been smartly implemented into other game modes like Career and Ultimate Team. We will have to wait and see if the community embraces its unique positioning.
As for Ultimate Team and Clubs, players can expect to feel right at home and pick up where they left off from the previous year. Whether that is a good or bad thing depends on your love of the grind and the hustle, but there are new Evolutions and Player Item shells for the forme. It still doesn’t change the fact that microtransactions will still rule the day in Ultimate Team, but at least you will be able to enjoy the football a little more with FC IQ.
Clubs add expanded customisation for your player, a personalised social space in the Clubhouse, and the much-needed return of relegation to up the stakes in Clubs League play. The Facilities feature is also set to have a big impact on all clubmates, making it even more imperative that everyone plays for each other and help the club progress rather than chase individual glory.
All of it is tied together with a revamped presentation this year, which aids in streamlining the menus and giving off more of a modern feel to the proceedings. Looking at the player’s information, deciding your next course of action in any of the modes, and just on the pitch itself, there are tweaks here and there that help to bring the game closer to its real-life counterpart. In fact, the presence of Performance and Resolution visual modes in EA Sports FC 25 is the first time players can make that choice, with both modes targeting 60 FPS and varied lighting and ray tracing options. It may not be revolutionary, but everything adds up as you put in the hours.
In what has become an annual exercise, the already enjoyable gameplay of the series continues to be both a pro and a con, but with FC IQ being a feature that actually makes a tangible difference in EA Sports FC 25, it is easier to recommend new entry as something veterans should check out. The increased focus on Career Mode is undoubtedly welcome, as is the expanded use of women’s football, but everything else comes down to how you feel about marginal gains. In high-level sports, that can make all the difference, but in video games, it just might not be significant enough for you to join the team.
EA Sports FC 25 launches on September 27 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Early access with the Ultimate Edition begins on September 20.
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Summary
FC IQ is the headliner in EA Sports FC 25, and rightly so, as the Beautiful Game gets smarter and more appealing to tacticians rather than the general player.
