2023 marks the end of an era for the world’s favourite sports video-game franchise. FIFA is no more, enter stage right – EA Sports FC.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the FIFA franchise is a household name, it’s fair to say then that each annual instalment is a big deal, whether the tangible developments between titles are significant or not.
On the basis of deep-dive videos and teasers released by EA, this year is more than just a name change for the franchise. With that being said, here are 5 of the new features that we are most excited to try out when EA Sports FC 24 launches on Friday, 29 September.
5 things we’re hyped for in EA Sports FC 24
1. Hypermotion V
We’re going to jump straight into what we consider to be the big-ticket item to be revealed to date for FC 24, and that’s Hypermotion V. EA say that this technology will completely redefine the game.
So, what is it? Well, the V in Hypermotion V stands for ‘Volumetric Capture Technology’ – or motion-capture to you and me.
Cameras in real-life stadia across the world have been used to capture motion from the world’s best players during real-world matches, from leagues including the Premier League & Champions League.
The captured motions have been built into FC 24, meaning that Erling Haaland will run like Erling Haaland does. But it’s not just running, and it’s not just Haaland. Players will dribble, shoot, tackle and make saves like their real-life counterparts, and EA tell us that over 1,200 different running styles will be baked into the game, bringing an unprecedented level of immersion and realism to players.
2. True to life playstyles
To further enhance the realism delivered by Hypermotion V, EA Sports FC 24 sees the introduction of playstyle specific signature abilities allocated to FC 24 players to reflect their real-life counterparts. Be it Trent’s signature whipped crosses, Vinicius Jr’s dazzling dribbling or Haaland’s bullet headers, you can utilise each individual player’s greatest strengths to gain the advantage over your opponents.
FC 24 will see 34 unique play-styles, which, as well as being applied to real-world players, can also be earned and applied to your Career mode player, or even your Ultimate team player.
3. Manager career mode enhancements
If, like me, you’re a manager career mode fiend, this bit is for you.
This year promises some truly transformative developments to enhance your manager mode experience, by allowing you to put your unique stamp on your team like never before. If you want to employ a gegenpressing style of play, you can do so.
Furthermore, you will be able to recruit coaches, who, depending on their specialities and traits, will drastically change not only the way your players develop, but also how they fit into your tactics and chosen playstyle.
By recruiting the right coaches, you can make the difference between having a group of individual stars, and a well-oiled machine of a squad ready to compete on all fronts.
You will also receive pre-match scouting reports on your opponents that will highlight their specific traits. This will allow you to make a plan of your own, whether it be stifling your opponents counter-attacking style by parking the bus, or using intricate passing to break down your opponents low block. You can also adapt training plans accordingly to ensure that your squad is best prepared for the challenges presented by your opponents.
4. Player career mode enhancements
Player career mode hasn’t been neglected either. FC 24 introduces a much more true to life experience for players.
If you choose to start out as a lower-league player with aspirations to someday make the big time, you have the ability to feed this into your players agent. Your agent will then highlight a potential pathway to achieve stardom at your desired club, including in-game objectives like scoring so many goals and making so many appearances. If you achieve these, who knows, bigger clubs may take an interest in you.
You can also live the life of a star of the football world, too, with in-game effects. For example, you may choose to splash out on an expensive sports car, which will boost personality traits of your player, and open up on the pitch skills and abilities to reflect this personality.
5. Frostbite engine
The Frostbite engine is not new to the FIFA/FC franchise. However, this year’s instalment builds on the ground breaking success of DICE’s game engine, with significant and noticeable realism improvements across player models, in-game lighting, the pitch, the match day experience, and even the way kits react to player movements.
Game-mode specific cutscenes during a match intro, or half-time drastically drive immersion, fans in the stands look and react in more true-to-life ways, and players look more convincing than ever, especially when coupled with Hypermotion V
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EA Sports FC’s YouTube channel continues to drop further deep-dive videos, ahead of the games BETA phase beginning in mid-August, and eventual full release on 29 September.
Keep it here for all of the latest EA Sports FC content and news.
What about EA Sports FC 24 are you most hyped for? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
