Detailed Analysis of Gameplay in EA Sports FC25!

07.09 .2024

Welcome to Field Notes with a Detailed Breakdown of EA SPORTS FC™ 25 Gameplay! Here, we will comprehensively examine each new facet of the gameplay coming to FC 25, ensuring you are well-prepared for the game's release on September 27th. Let's begin with a succinct summary of the key gameplay elements before delving into a complete breakdown. FC IQ This wholesale rework of tactical foundations in the game provides increased...

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FC IQ

This wholesale rework of tactical foundations in the game provides increased strategic command and more lifelike team movement, while a new AI model informed by real matches determines the tactical dimension through new player roles.

TACTICAL UPDATE

With the refurbished team tactics, players now select positions more efficiently both defensively and offensively, with the team's performance echoing real-life

football styles, infusing fresh sensations and singularity into every match.

PLAYER ROLES

Over 50 new player roles will shape how each player thinks and behaves on the pitch, cultivating a more tangible grasp of tactics and movement sans the ball.

SMART TACTICS

New real-time counsel and contextually relevant choices accessed via the D-pad render in-game tactical decision-making even simpler and more instinctive, while novel broadcasting capabilities assist in better comprehending the tactical adjustments made.

FC IQ

FC IQ is a novel centralized strategic and positional framework incorporated within EA SPORTS FC™ 25.

FC IQ revolutionizes our methodology towards strategy and placement, creating a more multifaceted and authentic gaming experience, whereas a newly designed AI model derived from genuine soccer matches establishes player responsibilities via innovative player roles.

In EA SPORTS FC™ 25, FC IQ serves as a critical cornerstone of gameplay advancement alongside HyperMotionV* and Play Styles. By leveraging data captured during comprehensive filming of elite teams and players globally, we developed HyperMotionV, enhancing visual excellence and player credibility. Play Styles additionally allowed us to augment player proficiency and individualize ball control. FC IQ represents the most recent foundational element, bringing forth even more variety and realism to the gameplay.

The community has requested we modernize tactics, and with FC IQ, we endeavor to reshape how games unfold across all modes.

FC IQ comprises three essential elements: Player Roles, Team Tactics, and Smart Tactics.

In a future Detailed Breakdown, we will dissect these aspects in detail, but here’s a preliminary view:

Player Roles

Player Roles constitute the essence of FC IQ, dictating the cognitive processes, actions, and movements of a player without the ball. Each role carries a distinct emphasis, characterized by unique strengths and weaknesses.

Standard Roles are primarily appointed through a custom AI model drawing upon real match data from Opta. For each player, there exists a notion known as Role Familiarity, whereby they perform best in their habitual role relative to other players.

Roles also influence team formations both with and without possession, evident in the menu.

A role specifies a player's primary responsibilities, while an Accent serves as a role modification, allowing users to fine-tune certain attributes within that role.

Altogether, the game will include 31 player roles, each with 1 to 3 Accents, amounting to a grand total of 52 unique configurations.

Every role and accent will undergo thorough analysis in a future Detailed Breakdown.

Position | Role – Accent

GK

Goalkeeper – Defense | Balance
Sweeper Keeper – Balance

RB/LB

Fullback – Defense | Balance
Wing Back – Balance
False Fullback – Defense | Balance
Attacking Wing Back – Attack | Balance

CB

Defender – Defense | Balance
Centre Back – Balance
Distributor – Defense | Developing attack

CDM

Defensive Midfielder – Defense | Free Movement
Central Midfielder – Defense
Deep Lying Playmaker – Defense | Free Movement

CM

Box-to-box – Balance
Defensive Midfielder – Defense
Deep Lying Playmaker – Defense
Playmaker – Attack | Free Movement
Winger – Balance | Attack

AMR/AML

Wide Midfielder – Defend | Balance
Flanking Playmaker – Offense
Inside Forward – Balanced | Offense

CF

Playmaker – Balanced | Free Movement
False Nine – Development of attack
Shadow Striker – Offense

ST

Advanced Forward – Offense | Versatility
Target Man – Offense
False Nine – Developing Attack
Post – Balanced | Attack

Role Familiarity

While roles are defined by a player's position, role familiarity is linked to specific players and works like a level of role.

Familiarity is tied to a player’s position, meaning if a position is one of a player's preferred positions, the player can play any role at that position. This applies to any position a player might have.

Our proprietary AI model helps determine role familiarities for most players in FC 25.

[Role] – Base role means the player is capable of playing in this role.
[Role+] – Role marked with a plus sign means the player has mastered this role.
Every player in FC 25 has at least one role+.
[Role++] – Role marked with two plus signs means the player is among the best in the world in this role.
Not on position – Yellow exclamation mark indicates a simplified version of the role when the player plays out of position.

Team Tactics

Team Tactics from FC IQ bring in systems utilized by the world's top tacticians, boosting the game intelligence of every player on the field. Consequently, your whole team will think and behave like professional footballers in a genuine match.

Here are the core components of team tactics:

Tactical Setup – Tactical formation, defensive strategy, and attack development style
Tactical templates for rapid configuration
Visual representation of your team with and without the ball
Dynamic review with tactical analysis
Capability to generate five standalone user-defined tactics
Unique code for sharing tactics with friends
And numerous additional features such as the roster tab for roles, which we'll cover in a future Detailed Breakdown.

Smart Tactics

Smart Tactics simplify in-game tactical decisions, making them more accessible and intuitive, enabling players to better comprehend the ramifications of tactical modifications.

Depending on the match situation, you'll get tactical alteration suggestions in the new messaging system and can effortlessly execute them using directional buttons.

These are the primary components of Smart Tactics:

D-Pad:
My Tactics (your custom tactics)
Tactical Emphasis
Quick Tactics
In-Game Tactical Advice
New Menu
New Substitution Screen
Animated Tactics Board and Augmented Reality Elements
New Commentary pertaining to Tactics
Capability to swap tactics and pick substitutes at any moment

We will explore these FC IQ features in depth in a future Detailed Analysis.

HyperMotion and Goalkeeping Styles

The HyperMotion V technology employs volumetric capture data to produce authentic player movements. Additionally, goalkeeping styles provide depth, emphasizing the goalkeeper's role and defining the actions of goalkeepers in different game scenarios. This technology enables our AI to accurately mimic player behavior in real football, injecting fresh experiences and adding uniqueness to every match.

HyperMotionV [NG]

Evolving HyperMotion V tech achieves new heights of realism and expands the possibilities on the field—new animations based on volumetric footage from actual matches will be introduced in FC 25, employed by the FC IQ system and concurrently unveiling players' distinct attributes.

Simulating AI [NG]

Let it be noted that Simulating AI reproduces unique bodily movements using volumetric video data from real games and state-of-the-art artificial intelligence.

The Simulating AI technology draws upon countless volumetric animation frames to recreate more intricate and natural movements of over 1800 players, including more than 200 new female athletes, for a more varied and inclusive depiction of the global football community. In FC 24, unique upper-body movements were demonstrated by 1373 players, rising to 1847 in this iteration, and their unique body movements are not confined to just the upper body—these players exhibit unique movements for both the upper and lower body. This expansion seeks to improve the visual experience and establish a new standard of realism in the virtual domain.

Capable of projecting the ball with yet higher velocity and over a substantially longer distance.

Attacking Play

Through the update focusing on precision, we comprehensively reviewed the approach to attacking play. Alongside this came novel techniques, chances to skip the ball to open up space, and improvements to passing, shooting, and dribbling. With these alterations, players gain more command and precision, making attacks livelier and bringing more joy.

Passing

We gladly share insights into essential revisions made to pass mechanics, guaranteeing each pass feels genuinely lifelike and indicative of your talent.

Updates to Pass Accuracy

In FC 25, a revised accuracy framework is implemented, infusing a stronger sense of personality and heightening realism on the digital turf. Developed to mirror the hurdles encountered by players aiming for exact passes under duress, from inconvenient angles, and other taxing circumstances in genuine soccer, you’ll observe that passes now rely more intensely on the idiosyncrasies of the player being managed. Characteristics specific to the player you handle will bear a heavier weight on the outcome of the pass. This change also suggests that in favorable conditions where you exercise astute and tactical judgement, you will attain superior outcomes, rewarding your grasp of soccer.

Other Passing Modifications

As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the gaming experience, several crucial adjustments were made to the passing mechanics:

New slide animation: New sliding animations were created, highlighting the challenges of playing on wet or slippery surfaces. After executing a difficult pass, players may slide, which adds realism to the game.

EA SPORTS FC 25 Pitch Notes - Slip Passes

Note: Such animations will only occur during matches with weather conditions set as 'rain' or 'snow' in non-competitive modes. They are strictly visual and do not impact the outcome of the pass or shot.

Powerful passes from sharp angles: New animations for strong passes delivered from tight angles were added. Our objective was to introduce more diversity and realism, with demanding passes appearing and feeling more authentic.
Improved cross target selection: Cross target selection became more reliable and predictable.

Shots

Nothing compares to scoring a goal, and in EA SPORTS FC™ 25, we strive to provide players with additional scoring opportunities.

These modifications aim to create a more realistic football experience, immersing players and rewarding their knowledge, strategy, and skills. We believe that with multi-factor and realistically portrayed passes, the game will become more thrilling and engaging.

Modifications to Shot Accuracy

One significant adjustment involved refining shot accuracy, similarly to how pass accuracy was improved. This means that shot accuracy will better reflect the corresponding real-world abilities and playing styles of players, taking into account the particular game scenario. It will now be more challenging to score accurately in difficult situations, and new animations showcasing shots after losing balance and from tricky angles will emerge.

Other Shot Enhancements

In addition to accuracy modifications, numerous other shot improvements were incorporated in EA SPORTS FC™ 25:

Shot animations following loss of balance: Now, the game features shot animations after losing one's balance. To activate the animation, angle and shot power are taken into consideration, further enriching the shot mechanics.
Updated shot animations: New shot animations based on volumetric capture data were introduced.

Ball Control (Dribbling)

Dribbling enhancements in EA SPORTS FC™ 25 aim to grant players a sense of increased stability and control while maneuvering with the ball. Additionally, we streamlined animations to prevent potential awkwardness and ensure that every move in dribbling appears and feels more convincing.

Dribbling Enhancements [NG]

Dribbling enhancements in FC 25 include:

Enhancements to various turning angles
New and upgraded dribbling animations
New and upgraded receiving animations

Note: The following abbreviations are used for input commands: LS = left stick, RS = right stick.

Improvements to direction detection and responsiveness for sharp touches in dribbling

Animations updated to reflect more dribbling angles

R1 + RS (deflect left/right) OR RS (hold left/right) || RB + RS (deflect left/right) OR RS (hold left/right)

First Touch Style of Play Improvements

New first touch animations added for both low and high balls received

Improvements to Skipping the Ball

Skipping the ball animation starts upon request instead of when the ball reaches the player

Hold R1 + LS (away from the ball) || Hold RB + LS (away from the ball)
The following input removed: Circular dribble L1 + L2 + direction via LS || LB + LT + direction via LS

Special Moves

New special moves and existing ones have been modified.

New Special Moves

Big Fake (2 stars)
Hold L2 + deflect RS left/right (+ LS direction to fake side) || Hold LT + deflect RS left/right (+ LS direction to fake side)
Stop and Run (2 stars)
Hold L2 + RS back, forward || Hold LT + RS back, forward
Can be canceled
Step Over (4 stars)
Hold L1 + deflect RS forward, left/right || Hold LB + deflect RS forward, left/right
Can be canceled
Drag Back (5 stars)
Hold L1 + rotate RS right, back, left / rotate RS left, back, right || Hold LB + rotate RS right, back, left / rotate RS left, back, right

Updates to Trick Moves

New trick fakes
○/o + x + direction LS || X/B + A + direction LS standing or running
Updates to Special Moves
Drag Turn (4 stars) – Updated animation provides greater responsiveness and effectiveness in appropriate scenarios
Drag Swivel (4 stars) – Assigned to Hold L2 + deflect RS forward, deflect left/right || Hold LT + deflect RS forward, deflect left/right
Deflect RS back, deflect RS left/right
A new elegant animation for throwing the ball between legs at 180 degrees (4 stars)
Hold L1 + R1 + deflect RS in desired direction || Hold LB + RB + deflect RS in desired direction

Defense

Defensive play has also been improved through the introduction of tactical fouls, adding an element of strategy to the gameplay. With enhanced goalkeeper movements and quicker player switches, we want to enable players to defend more strategically.

Defending Actions

We want to give you more control over match situations and more methods to stop opposing players by updating core mechanics and introducing a new mechanic—tactical fouls.

Tactical Fouling

This action is your strategic choice to disrupt a counterattack or halt a promising opponent advance. However, use it judiciously: tactical fouls always result in a yellow card, and excessive usage may lead to a red card.

To execute a tactical foul, press

R1+X || RB+A

Other Defensive Game Updates

Reaction Time Adjustment: A new option allows adjusting how quickly the next player is switched, customized to your preferences.
Sliding Tackles: Improved logic behind sliding tackle animations for better outcomes with this move.
Shoulder-to-Shoulder Play: Refined animation and reaction timing for the player performing a shoulder bump for better results when deflecting the ball.
Animation Enhancements: Includes new and updated animations based on volumetric capture data.

Selecting Defensive Positions

Defensive Awareness Against Attackers: Defensive AI recognizes when an attacker is about to break past a defender and guides defenders closer to the center and nearer the goal.
Defensive Tactical Schemes: The system considers the chosen tactical scheme and adapts it according to the FC IQ tactical model.
Marking Inside the Penalty Area: Improved capability of AI to utilize zonal marking within the penalty area to block back passes leading to goal shots. Defenders focus less on directly tracking attackers and more on efficiently blocking back passes.

Goalkeepers

Goalies in EA SPORTS FC™ 25 have undergone numerous upgrades, including goalkeeper movement and a new “Containing Exit” feature.

Goalkeeper Movement

Manual goalkeeper movements are restricted to only 1-2 steps in any direction before entering a brief recovery phase to avoid overuse.

Summary:

Changes to goalkeeper mobility permit moving one or two steps away to make saves in the proper direction.
After a brief pause, the goalkeeper resumes their initial position.
There is a brief rest period between each goalkeeper maneuver.
New and updated goalkeeper save animations include foot saves, kick clearances, diving saves, and punch saves.

During free kicks (e.g., corners or penalties), goalkeeper actions remain unchanged.

Containing Goalkeeper Exit

Players in EA SPORTS FC™ 25 can access a novel type of goalkeeper exit. This new mechanism permits the goalie to leave the goal line and decrease the distance between themself and the attacking player without completely closing the gap, thereby decreasing the shooting angle.

To initiate the containing exit:

Press ▲ + hold ▲ || Press Y + hold Y to carry out the containing goalkeeper exit.

Other Goalkeeper Alterations

Input Renaming: “Goalie Interception” rebranded as “Center Out”:
Press ▲ + press ▲ || Press Y + press Y to activate the Center Out.
Press ▲ || Press Y to terminate the Center Out.

Field-Wide Visual Enhancements

Visual improvements throughout the field—including denser grass and more lifelike player models—enhance the game's realism. New roles during set pieces increase variety, expanded bench sizes provide strategic flexibility, and the Pass Map created by the Eval Engine facilitates in-depth tactical analysis.

Set Pieces

Corner Kick Roles*

This functionality might not be available in all modes*

Users can now assign players to occupy three critical corner positions:

Near Post: The designated player monitors the near post during a defended corner or runs toward the near post during a corner execution.
Far Post: The assigned player keeps watch over the far post during a defended corner or advances toward the far post during a corner execution.
Crossbar Player: This player stands in the middle of the penalty area during a corner execution.

Direct Free Kicks

Quick direct free kick: players can now request a sophisticated pass using R1 + ▲ || RB + Y while taking a quick direct free kick.
The speed of long-distance strikes has been adjusted to create additional opportunities when executing long direct free kicks.

Penalties

The change in concentration circle speed has been adapted depending on the player's level of concentration.
In career mode and club avatar play, players can use new run-ups when taking penalties:
Many players have been given new penalty kick animations.

Rules

Updates in this aspect of FC 25 aim to improve the overall gaming experience, bringing it closer to real football. From introducing offside graphics to fine-tuning foul detection logic – everything is geared towards improving the game for both serious and casual EA SPORTS FC™ players.

Offside Graphics

Visual cues appear on the pitch to help players identify offside situations during matches.

Player Color Graphics

Color graphics that enhance player visibility on the field.
These graphics improve contrast and brightness, making players visible regardless of weather conditions and match times.

Note: When playing locally with multiple controllers, the screen color graphic will correspond to the color of the player who committed the infraction.

Additional Substitutions* [NG]

This functionality may not be available in all modes*.

Now, depending on the tournament, players have 9 substitution spots, providing greater tactical flexibility when making changes during the game.

Aggressive Team Behavior and Player Fouls Animations

Updated animations and player responses to fouls.
Scenes involving aggressive team behavior and player fouls have been enhanced to reflect the intensity and tension of matches.

Improved foul recognition logic for simulation attempts

Foul recognition logic has been enhanced for simulation attempts – determining fouls by goalkeepers and attackers is now more accurate.

Delayed Red Card

A new system gives teams an advantage and allows the game to continue if the opponent commits a foul resulting in a second yellow card or a straight red card. The second yellow or straight red card will be shown later, during the next stoppage in play.

Note: The game will continue only in situations where the attacking team has a clear scoring opportunity.

Eval Engine

A new passing map has been added to the statistics screen, providing players with more analytical information.

Movement of Players

The following improvements have been made to player movement:

Movement without the ball: visual enhancement of player movement across the field
Collisions with goalposts: new collision animations have been introduced for players colliding with goal posts
Goalkeeper falls: the visual quality of goalkeeper movements when falling and getting back up from the ground has been improved to boost the realism of the match.
Covering: stability of covering the ball by a player from opposing attackers has been strengthened. Covering the ball now depends on the player’s fatigue — the less energy a player has, the less effective their coverage will be.

Simulation Mode

For players preferring a more strategic approach with the option to simulate matches, the Simulation Mode provides finely tuned match settings via a new AI, wind impact, and customizable sliders.

Simulation Mode will be available in the following game modes:

Player Career
Coach Career
Quick Match
Tournament

Below are templates for slider settings used in Simulation Mode:

Computer AI

In Simulation Mode, slider templates help users configure computer AI to better reflect the pace of real matches—offline users can play slower, more realistic football.

AI Sliders

In EA SPORTS FC™ 25, two new AI slider templates will be introduced under the “Game Settings” > “AI Slider” section. These include:

Tactical
AI makes decisions based on the opponent’s style of play
Note: Tactical AI sliders adjust before each match begins
Dynamic
Similar to the tactical template, however the slider values slightly differ from those of the tactical template
This increases the variability in the behavior of the computer AI when playing against the same opponent multiple times

New AI Sliders in FC25:

Aggression in Defending
Speed of Attack Development
Frequency of Shots
Frequency of One-Touch Passes
Frequency of Crosses
Frequency of Dribbling
Frequency of Special Techniques

Wind Effects

Wind is a new effect in EA SPORTS FC™ 25 available in all offline modes. Wind effects can be enabled under Game Settings > Match.

Wind effects affect various aspects of the match, including the trajectory of the ball, player hair, and physics of player forms. Wind effects are activated in settings and apply in the following modes:

Player Career and Coach Career
Quick Match
Tournament

Note: Players can choose three levels of wind intensity: low, medium, or high. During the match, wind does not change its speed or direction.

Conclusion on EA SPORTS FC 25 — Detailed analysis of the gameplay guide:

EA SPORTS FC 25 is an anticipated release that promises significant improvements over previous versions of the popular sports franchise. This detailed analysis of the gameplay guides examines the key features and updates that distinguish this version from its predecessors.New AI Slide Templates: Two new AI slide templates provide increased control over the computer's decision-making process, allowing for more strategic and dynamic gameplay.Tactical Template: Makes decisions based on the opponent's style of play.Dynamic Template: Offers slight variations in slider values for increased variability.Enhanced Wind Effects: Includes realistic wind effects in the game, influencing ball trajectories, player hair, and form physics. Available in all offline modes at varying intensities.Overall, EA SPORTS FC 25 brings many exciting enhancements that elevate the gaming experience. By combining improved AI and player movement, strategic simulation options, and refined rule mechanics, this version creates a more immersive and competitive environment for both hardcore and casual gamers. The introduction of wind effects and graphical enhancements further amplifies the realism, ensuring fans of the series will find plenty to appreciate in this latest iteration.