When EA Sports lost the FIFA moniker and instead moved to the EA Sports FC branding last year, it came with a few changes. Nintendo players finally got an up-to-date version of the game, albeit one that came with a few major port issues and only just escaped relegation, and there were a handful of other tweaks that didn’t create a major shift. However, EA Sports has promised wider changes with EA Sports FC 25.

EA Sports FC 25 is the latest in the long line of soccer games from EA Sports, setting a core template for the annual sports release worldwide. Included are all the major and minor men’s football leagues, as well as core parts of the women’s game, providing the most comprehensive licensed football experience. Although often yearly iterations don’t feel too different, a recent preview of EA Sports FC 25 showcased some interesting changes to the usual model.

Although Volta Football is being dropped from this year’s entry, it seems as though its general form is going to live on in a more integrated way called Rush. This is a 4v4 gameplay mode that is primarily made for play with friends, but seems to creep its way into every EA Sports FC 25 game mode rather than being an entirely separate option. In its multiplayer form, a team of four human players plus one AI goalkeeper play on a smaller pitch.

The rules are slightly tweaked, too, with Blue Cards that will work akin to the Sin Bin in rugby, offside only being eligible in the final third rather than by half, and a different 1v1 penalty setup. Another interesting shift is the lack of fixed positions, meaning that players will have control over exactly how they choose to play and where on this pitch. At its best this could likely lead to some great coordinated play, or alternatively absolute chaos if all the players decide to become Messi.

What’s interesting is where Rush will fit into different gameplay modes. A single player version will slot into Career Mode through the revamped youth team setup (more on that in a moment), with youth tournaments every two months that offer a boost in development to the successful team. Meanwhile, both Ultimate Team and Clubs will integrate Rush football, giving the option for Rush matches that give a whole different set of rewards and a better opportunity to play with friends.

FC IQ Shakes Up Tactics In A Potent Way

Strategy Heads Set For A Change

Perhaps the biggest overall structural change to EA Sports FC 25 is the introduction of FC IQ. This is essentially an overhaul of the way tactics work in the game, looking to be more authentic with an expansion of player roles to give more unique individual forms of play.

From the preview overview given, EA Sports seems to looking to replace the previously rigid structure of formations, instead providing a form of football that should become far more fluid, fitting to how actual football feels, with overlapping players and more varied off the ball movement. The preview also showed how players can mix and match player roles and player focuses, and it looks like there’s lots of different ways to build a team providing it all works well in practice. It still relies on what player is expected to play each role, with bonus ability for those with familiarity in a role and focus, while those players who are played out of position face limitations on how they’ll play.

This fluidity comes into team tactics too, with player roles and focuses built into tactics and formation in an integral way. As one such example, some of the key former positions that players would be given have been removed, instead integrated into the role system instead. Then, the player can then have up to five fully custom tactics, sharing the same lineup, which will hopefully make switching on the go in the middle of a game more effective and easy.

Career Mode Finally Gets Changes

Something For Single Players At Last

Career Mode may be the key single player format of the EA Sports FC franchise, but it does feel like it’s often overlooked in favor of the more profitable game modes. However, EA Sports FC 25 does look to be promising some significant changes to Career Mode this time around, should the preview information be accurate. For starters, fans of the women’s game will be pleased to know that five women’s leagues plus the Champion’s League are available and integrated into Career Mode this time around.

One key addition is Live Start Points, where the player can choose to start a career from a particular live point in time. This is done on a rolling weekly basis, so players could decide to start a new career mode and try to get a different outcome for a team midway through a season, or at key important events in the season, such as a manager or player leaving in real life. This, of course, won’t be available immediately at launch, as it will be dependent on events in the future, but it could feel nice and cathartic to take over an ailing club in real life and turn things around.

That’s not where the changes end, with youth teams seeing a big improvement courtesy of the introduction of 90 more countries to scout and being able to choose specific positions rather than nebulous characteristics. Icons have also been added, meaning the player could choose to take over from a great from the last such as Pirlo or Henry. In a player career, users can choose their player’s background, too, which from the preview looks a bit like how players choose Shepard’s backstory in Mass Effect.

Our Final Thoughts On A Big Year For EA

Finally Some Big Changes To A Franchise That Needs Them?

This is a taster of the changes made, with other tweaks like improved graphics, raytracing, more dynamic crowds and pitchside movements, a simulation mode of wind effects and slippy conditions, and realistic additions like professional fouls also apparently on the way. As it stands, EA Sports FC 25 could be one to watch when it launches this year. As always, though, it’s worth looking out for further information down the line to make sure this potential is being reached.

Screen Rant attended a virtual preview of EA Sports FC 25 for the purpose of this article.