EA continues their Deep Dive series for FC 25, and today we get a closer look at what’s new in Ultimate Team.
EA SPORTS FC 25 is set to elevate the Ultimate Team experience with a host of new features and community-requested improvements. As we gear up for the worldwide launch on September 27th, let’s see what players can expect from the revamped Ultimate Team mode.
Ultimate Team Rush
With the new Rush game mode revealed previously, here’s how it’s gonna work in FC 25 Ultimate Team:
- 5v5 Matches: Engage in intense, player-locked 5v5 matches with AI-controlled goalkeepers. You can control only your player.
- Team Collaboration: Team up with friends or join solo, bringing your favorite player item into the game.
- Event-Specific Challenges: Participate in events with specific entry requirements.
- Earn Rush Points: Complete blocks and win matches to earn Rush Points, essential for completing weekly objectives and earning rewards.
FC IQ in Ultimate Team
The new FC IQ tactical system will also be a massive part of Ultimate Team in FC 25 and will bring the next changes:
- Manager Presets: Utilize real-world tactical preferences from Manager Items for authentic team management.
- Player Roles: Replace Work Rates with specific roles like Goalkeeper, Fullback, and Playmaker to guide player behavior.
- Levels of Expertise: Players have varying familiarity levels (Base, Role+, Role++) affecting their performance in designated roles.
- Share Tactics: Tactics will now be shareable via a short code that you can show your friends or followers.
- Removed Positions: CF and LWB/RWB positions have been removed.
- Removed Formations: 4-4-1-1, 4-3-3 (5) and 5-2-2-1 have been removed.
New Stadium and Match Experience
A new customizable FUT stadium will be available in the next edition, paired with new cinematics:
- New Stadium Design: Experience a state-of-the-art stadium with larger away sections for a more vibrant atmosphere.
- Enhanced Broadcast Sequences: Enjoy new pre-match, locker room, and tunnel sequences that reflect your team’s customizations.
- Player Highlights: Broadcast elements now highlight key players, team chemistry, and tactical decisions.
Enhanced Evolutions
Introduced in FC 24, Evolutions will now be customizable and more flexible:
- Visual Customizations: Upgrade player item cards with new backgrounds, borders, and special effects.
- One Upgrade at a time: Cosmetic upgrades cannot be stacked, so applying a cosmetic upgrade will replace the previous one.
- Flexible Upgrades: In FC 25, you can select and upgrade your favourite players more often, even if they meet maximum attribute limits.
- Schedules: Evolutions will have a schedule with requirements and days of release, and they can be completed in any FUT game mode.
Community-Requested Improvements
Following the player feedback received in FC 24, EA applied the following improvements in FC 25 Ultimate Team:
- Duplicate Storage: You can store up to 100 untradeable duplicate players in a new SBC storage system.
- Points-Based Rewards: Players will earn points for wins and draws in Rivals, ensuring that every match contributes to your progress.
- Reduced Checkpoints and Relegation: Streamlined progression with fewer checkpoints and reintroduced relegation in higher Rivals divisions.
- Rivals Rewards: There will be one batch of rewards available. You won’t be able to choose anymore between tradeable and untradeable rewards.
- Form-Based Matchmaking: Matchmaking in Live Friendlies is now based on form, ensuring balanced and fair matches against opponents with similar records.
- Contract Removal: Player and manager contracts have been removed.
- Average Selling Price: Packed cards will have an average selling price attached to them.
- New Walkout Animation: When opening a pack, there will be a new tunnel walkout animation featuring the silhouette of the player before the reveal.
While the core of the mode remains largely unchanged, these new additions and improvements are sure to be appreciated by the player base.
The next deep dive will focus on Career Mode, set to drop on August 7th.
EA SPORTS FC 25 will be released worldwide on September 27, 2024 and will be available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
