Gaming | August 17, 2023
The introduction of women’s football into Ultimate Team was one of the major controversies during the unveiling of the upcoming EA Sports FC 24. Starting from this installment, players will be able to create mixed-gender teams in what has become the primary game mode of the football video game. Being able to combine players like Sam Kerr and Mbappé in a lethal attacking line sounded fantastic to some and catastrophic to others. As is often the case with such changes, reactions were exaggerated. However, Electronic Arts has no intention of reversing course and has sent a very clear message to fans in the latest game presentation video.
The developers at EA Sports FC have cited design criteria to justify the inclusion of women’s football in this game mode. “The fantasy of Ultimate Team is, obviously, to assemble your favorite players from around the world into the ultimate starting eleven,” defended the company. Just a few seconds later, they emphasized this idea even further: “It’s called Ultimate Team, and if you can’t use your favorite footballers, it’s not really your Ultimate Team.” This justification, valid in any case, is also supported by other changes introduced in this first installment after the split from FIFA.
One of EA Sports’ goals for the game mode is to provide players with more options to create unique teams, so that the same line-ups influenced by overpowered players that are part of the ‘meta’ don’t always appear, or, combining both ideas in plain language, teams that are too powerful. “This year, with the introduction of more leagues and player evolution, you’ll be able to create a team that doesn’t look like the rest of the community’s,” the company promises.
Player evolution is precisely the other major change that aligns with allowing us to use our favorite players. For the first time since the mode’s inception, there will be a system where the cards of our club can improve based solely on their performance in matches. By achieving objectives, we can increase their scores in certain attributes or even make their weak foot ratings better. It’s a system that will allow us to turn a player who isn’t among the world’s best into a star ready to perform as well as the top players.
