After a rebranding in 2023, EA Sports FC 25 was tasked with building on the foundation laid by its predecessor while evolving the gameplay and modes. Released in September 2024, the game aimed to refine the on-pitch action and deepen player engagement across its popular modes. While it garnered “generally favorable” reviews on PlayStation 5 and “mixed or average” on Xbox Series X/S according to Metacritic, ultimately winning “Best Sports/Racing Game” at The Game Awards 2024, its reception reflects a game with clear strengths and areas for continued improvement.
Gameplay: A Tale of Two Styles
One of the most significant changes in FC 25 was the introduction of two distinct gameplay presets: Competitive and Authentic.
- Competitive Gameplay: Designed for online modes like Ultimate Team and Clubs, this preset offered a faster, more responsive experience. It featured quicker passing, more direct player control, and an overall higher tempo, catering to the esports and competitive player base.
- Authentic Gameplay: Aimed at offline modes such as Career Mode, this preset focused on realism. It delivered a truer-to-life match tempo, more positionally aware AI defenders, realistic corner kick outcomes, and refined player animations, providing a more simulation-heavy experience.
This bifurcated approach was largely well-received, as it allowed players to tailor their experience to their preferred playstyle. Dribbling felt more responsive, movement was sharper, and AI players showed improved decision-making off the ball, leading to more fluid offensive play. Goalkeeper animations were enhanced with new volumetric data, aiming for more fluid and realistic saves, though their overall effectiveness remained a point of debate for some.
Modes: Evolution and New Additions
FC 25 continued to refine its staple modes while introducing fresh ways to play.
- Ultimate Team (FUT): Still the crown jewel for many, FUT received notable upgrades. The new Rush mode offered fast-paced 5v5 matches, playable across Ultimate Team, Clubs, and Kick-Off. The inclusion of new multi-round tournaments with knockout stages and “Bounty” events for completing challenges added fresh ways to compete and earn rewards. A new set of ICONs and Heroes, including fan favorites like Zlatan Ibrahimović, Alex Morgan, and Ronaldo (Brazil), energized squad building.
- Career Mode: EA heard the calls for more depth. Manager Career introduced “Live Challenges” – real-world scenarios that forced managers to adapt, impacting job prospects via a new Manager Market system. Player Career now allowed for Women’s teams to be managed, complete with five women’s leagues, and also integrated “Commercials” to simulate the off-pitch life of a professional athlete.
- Clubs (formerly Pro Clubs): This mode saw significant improvements, including a new Clubhouse for social interaction, Facilities to build up your club, and the inclusion of Clubs Rush for 5v5 action. The ability to be affiliated with up to three clubs at once provided more flexibility.
- FC IQ: This major tactical overhaul system aimed to deliver greater strategic control and more realistic collective movement. Over 50 new Player Roles (replacing player instructions) allowed for deeper tactical finesse, guided by real-world Opta data. In-game tactical suggestions and a new substitution menu made in-game adjustments more intuitive.
Authenticity and Licenses
EA Sports FC 25 maintained its impressive roster of licenses, boasting over 19,000 players, 700+ teams, 120+ stadiums, and 30+ leagues. It remained the exclusive home for major competitions like the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, Bundesliga, and LaLiga EA Sports, among others, alongside the UEFA Women’s Champions League and Barclays Women’s Super League. While some minor license changes occurred (e.g., losing AC Milan and Inter Milan, but gaining SSC Napoli and AS Roma), the overall authenticity remained unparalleled.
Jude Bellingham graced the Standard Edition cover, with a star-studded Ultimate Edition featuring Bellingham alongside legends like David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Gianluigi Buffon, and Aitana Bonmatí.
Performance and Overall Reception
Performance on the PlayStation 5 was generally positive, while the Xbox Series X/S version received more mixed reviews, indicating some inconsistencies. The game did face some initial online connectivity issues and balancing tweaks post-launch, as is typical with large online titles.
Despite some of the traditional criticisms about annual iteration and microtransactions (especially in Ultimate Team), EA Sports FC 25 was widely seen as a solid progression for the series. It built upon the previous year’s foundation with meaningful gameplay refinements and additions across its popular modes, delivering an authentic football simulation that rightly earned its “Best Sports/Racing Game” award at The Game Awards 2024. For football fans, it continued to be the most comprehensive virtual football experience available.
