As a die-hard football fan and career mode enthusiast who has been following FIFA games since its inception, I can’t help but feel excited about the latest updates to Career Mode in FIFA 25. Having always felt somewhat neglected after launch compared to Ultimate Team, it’s refreshing to see EA Sports finally catering to the passionate career mode community.
In my earlier discussion, I pointed out that EA FC 25 is rich with nuanced on-field modifications. However, there’s a wealth of off-field changes to explore as well. Although Ultimate Team will undoubtedly attract numerous players, it’s Career Mode that appears to be undergoing the most significant transformation in years.
In a trip to EA Romania’s studio in Bucharest, I had the chance to chat with Alex Constantinescu (Principal Game Designer) and Andreas Wilsdorf (Line Producer) about the exciting updates planned for this year. Topics ranged from introducing a women’s career mode, to the live starting points feature, and much more.
The Women’s Game
In recent years, Electronic Arts (EA) has incorporated women’s football into their games, with notable players from top leagues appearing in Ultimate Team last year for the first time. This year, career mode will introduce the women’s game, merging it seamlessly with the existing mode instead of offering a separate one. Players will now have the option to switch between managing both men’s and women’s teams. However, it’s important to note that the women’s football has its unique aspects compared to the men’s version.
Wilsdorf clarifies, emphasizing that one significant distinction between the men’s and women’s versions of the game is a greater emphasis on youth participation. He notes that many women’s teams feature players as young as sixteen years old. This year, the game will introduce a Youth Squad feature, along with a 5v5 Rush mode for youth tournaments.
Another point worth considering is that the player transfer market can be quite challenging, especially when you take a step back to consider it in reality. In this scenario, a limited number of standout players exist, and every year, you’ll notice the leading leagues and top-tier clubs vying for these coveted athletes.
From my personal experience as a seasoned football club manager, I understand that it can be challenging to retain star players due to constant offers from rival teams. This often results in increased investment in our youth academy, as we aim to nurture and develop the next generation of talent. However, I find myself constantly asking: Am I focusing too much on cultivating homegrown talent or am I on a never-ending quest to discover the next big thing, perhaps even in lesser-known leagues?
However, why did they decide to include a female career option this time specifically? Constantinescu indicates that it was simply “the right moment”.
“He stated that the ideal moment for us to introduce a career mode focused on women’s football was approaching, primarily due to the number of licenses we managed to secure. We realized that once we had four or five leagues in the game, it would be the right point to begin considering this feature. This was because we wanted an active transfer window to be operational.”
He emphasizes that they aimed for more than just a simple tournament format lacking intensity and exploration opportunities. Incorporating the top five leagues and the Women’s Champions League creates an engaging and captivating user experience instead.
A fresh starting point
Regardless if you choose a male or female character, whether you’re playing as a player or managing a team, this time around offers fresh customization options for your gaming experience. While I’ve previously discussed the ‘Simulation’ settings elsewhere, now you can tailor the starting phase of your career journey in the career mode.
One option for rephrasing: Players can choose between setting their initial stats or selecting from three pre-defined backgrounds when starting a career. This feature was partly influenced by the gameplay mechanics of World of Warcraft, as explained by Constantinescu.
In both modes, players have the option to select fresh “Current Starting Points” throughout a season. These updates will synchronize your chosen league with current statistics and positions at each given time. For instance, an Arsenal supporter could strive to secure the title instead of choking, or a player might attempt to clinch the Champions League after signing Jadon Sancho in January.
The changes being made are aimed at significantly enhancing the adaptability and pliability of Career Mode, and Wilsdorf emphasizes that there’s a lot to look forward to in terms of new possibilities.
As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that flexibility is key when it comes to video games. Just as we all have unique playstyles and preferences, game mechanics should be tailored to accommodate those differences. For instance, for younger players who are eager to progress quickly, offering an option to speed up the development rate could make the game more engaging and enjoyable. Similarly, imposing a transfer embargo on oneself can add another layer of challenge for experienced players who want to build their team organically. This way, everyone can play at their own pace and truly make the game their own.
“With these adjustable settings, you can modify the initial position, allowing you to tailor the experience according to your preferences. Even with pre-existing real-world data, you’ll have the option to set up challenges that suit your needs.”
As an avid career mode enthusiast myself, I’m thrilled about the new options that cater to long-term fans like us. Now, we have the liberty to disable features that, in recent years, felt a bit burdensome. For instance, you can completely eliminate training if it’s not your cup of tea. Furthermore, a customizable ‘Advance’ button, combined with a new task list, ensures we stay updated about whatever we find important. If you prefer, you can even jump straight to matches without worrying about the details.
While Constantinescu acknowledges that your plans to penalize teams like Manchester City may not be feasible at the moment, this aspect is duly noted.
“He clarifies that ‘beginning points for us are like dipping a toe into the water with regard to live services and refining our career mode continuously over the course of the year.'”
He explains further, emphasizing their focus on leveraging real-world advancements to generate content. To illustrate, he mentions the Snapshot feature, which will be more prominently displayed in the game’s menu this time. Essentially, these Snapshots function as carefully crafted situations, such as preventing an injury crisis to secure the league title.
Players also have the flexibility to manage a wounded team, attempting to assemble a squad that could potentially clinch the championship, or they can simulate different scenarios by adjusting the injury status for their own “what if” exploration.
If you’re curious about how these ongoing service goals might impact Ultimate Team, rest assured – there will be ample activities for players within the card-gathering, mystery box-unwrapping section.
“Constantinescu clarifies, ‘Our career mode doesn’t compete with Ultimate Team or any other game mode within EA FC. Instead, we focus on the dedicated fanbase who have expressed their passion for our career mode, feeling overlooked post-launch in the past.'”
As a gamer, I’m always looking forward to updates and enhancements, but what truly excites me is the continuation of iconic campaigns like St. Patrick’s Day, Futties, and Team of the Year. In response to this anticipation, Live Starting Points are our way of keeping the game fresh and exciting.
Wilsdorf remarks, “You often find yourself thinking, ‘If I were in charge, I could improve this.’ Now, you have the opportunity to put that thought into action and discover if your ideas would indeed make a difference.”
Here we go!
One of the most surprising additions for this year’s career mode is a deeper emphasis of social media, with the likes of transfer guru Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic’s social media accounts represented in the game, catchphrases and all.
Although their in-game interactions maintain a formal demeanor, the team devised a variety of spontaneous responses from other profiles – some casual and chatty, others playfully teasing or mocking.
Constantinescu explains, “One reason we enjoyed using social media instead of traditional news outlets for football updates was its flexibility in tone. It allows us to lighten up and deviate from strict seriousness, making our content seem more genuine and enjoyable.”
“It might surprise you, yet some large media platforms have been known to post playful jokes or puns. However, the comment sections on those platforms are a whole other entity.”
“Wilsdorf mentions that after selling your top forward, some fans express anger, others accept it, and then he notices the popular ‘oh well, moving on’ meme being shared.”
According to Constantinescu, he remembers finding a screenshot from the private test phase in which Romano announced that Harry Maguire was supposed to transfer from Manchester United to Lille.
Among the game comments, there was one that said, “This is underwhelming. When can we expect the major player transactions?”
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2024-08-08 19:44