I spent two days playing EA Sports FC 25 – here’s all the major differences from 24

IT’S that time of year again, when the sun is shining and EA begins slowly placing breadcrumbs for fans ahead of the next EA Sports FC release.

We’ve just had the EA Sports FC 25 cover stars revealed, with Jude Bellingham on the Standard Edition, and Beckham, Zidane, Bonmatí, and Buffon joining him for the Ultimate Edition.

EA is up to its usual tricks. Those who buy the pricier Ultimate Edition will be able to play a week earlier than the Standard players starting from September 20, compared to September 27.

However, we all know that plenty will stay the same in the upcoming EA Sports FC release, but everyone wants to know what’s different.

The main attraction is that there are two new features being introduced in EA Sports FC 25.

Rush is the first and will essentially be replacing Volta, which was only introduced in FIFA 20.

These are 5-a-side matches with four players and a CPU goalie, and will feature unconventional rules like blue cards, NBA-style race-to-ball kick-offs, shootout penalties, and attacking third offsides.

When we tried this mode we couldn’t change the length of the match and it dragged on a bit, but it’s a fun concept on a smaller pitch.

The other new feature, FC IQ, is being called the “most significant change to tactics in a decade” for the series.

It’s a lot to take in, but the new system will introduce more than 50 new roles that each footballer can play.

For example, a CAM can also be a playmaker, a shadow striker or a half-winger, while a right or left back can be a fullback, falseback, wingback or attacking wingback.

Adding another layer, these roles can then have a focus, such as a roaming or attacking playmaker.

The aim is to give more nuance to how each player moves, adding more strategy beyond who has the highest number, or who are on the same team.

It’s putting the game more in line with the real sport. Bellingham and Rice might both be midfielders but you wouldn’t play them the same way on the pitch.

We had a few days to play EA Sports FC 25 and overall it feels mostly the same as 24.

You can feel the difference if you really engage with the IQ system, but think that the average gamer won’t even notice it.

As with most EA Sports’ games, it gets slightly better with every iteration, but in ways you don’t even realise until you play one of the games from 10 years ago.

The graphics have obviously improved in a similar way, and there are now two modes that both run at 60fps but with varying graphical trickery.

Another major change is that you can now play in the top five women’s leagues in career mode, meaning that women can have a career path for the first time.

The mode that everyone really wants to hear about is Ultimate Team, and the headline is that Rush will be integrated into this as well.

You can choose one of your UT players and use them in your Rush team online for special bonuses and rewards.

FC IQ will also be a main feature of UT cards, with each player having a set of roles as well as their position.

Progression is also combined across UT, Club, and Career modes, so any way you play will help make the difference.

The ball has only just started rolling for EA Sports FC 25, and we will be following the trail of breadcrumbs all the way until release.

If you want to read more about gaming releases, check out our Flintlock: Siege of Dawn review.