EA Sports will launch the next edition of FIFA - FIFA 21 - in October 2020, despite the difficulties associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, which has disrupted various industries, including football.
Every year, the pressure is on games developers to come up with something that tops the previous effort, with avid gamers always keen to see new features or upgrades to existing aspects of the game.
It's all about improving the user experience and, while the creative work is led by the experts, gamers are consulted and their concerns are certainly part of the decision-making process.
So, what sort of new features will be on FIFA 21? Goal takes a look at some changes and the things people want to see.
Gameplay & graphics upgrades
The release of FIFA 21 will occur around the same time that next-generation consoles PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, so the expectation is that the game will be better and more realistic on those new consoles.
Along with Madden NFL 21, FIFA 21 showcases EA Sports' new 'Next Level' updates. These include a variety of graphical and gameplay developments, including new features that are only available in the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of the game.
Controller haptics are a new addition in FIFA 21 on PS5, thanks to the console's DualSense controller, which allows you to "feel the rhythm of the game in your hands" and respond to shots, passes and tackles through the controller.
The new improvements to agile dribble will allow users to have more tools when approaching defenders, including quick footwork in 1v1 situations, skill moves such as the bridge dribble and dummy turns, as well as smoother control and faster responsiveness to control.
Gamers will also be able to have enhanced positioning personality, with improvements to the footballers' awareness in-game that will be closer matched to their real world actions and thinking on the ball - with more realistic anticipation of play, ball movement and space awareness.
There will also be more options for creative runs for team movement, including the likes of more directed runs, directed pass and go and player lock.
A brand-new natural collision system with heightened animation will improve the overall feel of gameplay with smoother interactions on the pitch - especially for features such as goalmouth scrambles, midfield battles for possession and attacking duels.
In response to feedback from the FIFA community, the latest release will also guarantee improved passing, blocking, responsiveness and manual headers to create a more seamless experience.
Deferred rendering and lightning will add to the realism of the game, with stadiums looking more like their real-life counterparts, while player physiques have been improved to look and feel more natural.
In addition, spatialised audio improves in-game sound effects, while there has been improvements in off-ball humanisation so that players react more realistically during games.
EA Sports has also promised the fastest load times ever for FIFA 21, meaning players will not have to wait as long to begin a match when they boot up the game.
Another gameplay addition that would increase the realism of FIFA 21 is VAR .
While there is strictly no need for a video assistant referee in the game due to the fact that AI makes calls on whether a foul was committed inside the box or there has been an offside, it is now a part of football.
Adding VAR would only be an aesthetic touch, but it would have to be incorporated well, so as to avoid it becoming repetitive, for example.
New Ultimate Team Icons
FIFA 20's new class of Icons included the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Ian Wright and Ronald Koeman, as well as cover star Zinedine Zidane, but what will FIFA 21 bring?
There is already an extensive list of past players on FUT, but there are still some notable absentees, not to mention those iconic stars who recently hung up their boots for good.
Roma and Italy hero Francesco Totti, for example, is widely tipped to be included in the next game as an Icon, as is Chelsea's John Terry and former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic.
Others include Gabriel Batistuta, Phillipp Lahm, Cafu and Tim Cahill.
One icon who is unlikely to appear on FIFA 21 is David Beckham, who has had a deal with EA Sports' rival brand Pro Evolution Soccer to appear on their game only.
EA Sports FIFA
FIFA Ultimate Team
Users playing Ultimate Team will also be able to join friends online and compete for rewards with the FUT Co-Op gameplay.
Players can team up in Division Rivals and Squad Battles and compete for all-new Co-Op objectives, with the added incentive that gamers will be rewarded for playing together and winning.
Expanded club customisation will be introduced so users can truly make their side unique both on and off the pitch.
Career Mode improvements
The latest iteration of the FIFA game is set to improve the popular Career Mode massively, with more in-depth matches, transfers and training - alongside more active training and match sharpness, more options for weekly schedule planning and enhanced opposition AI.
Career Mode will also allow gamers to have more control of each match's outcome using the Interactive Match Sim that has been designed to improve Player Development, all alongside a brand new growth system.
Improvements to player development lets users have greater control over their team's individual growth, developing defenders into midfielders and more to fill more roles within the squad.
The new player feedback system sees gamers have more a visual understanding of their players' physiological and psychological states in the lead-up to a game, with access to morale, sharpness and how fit and ready for action certain members are.
One the biggest peeves for players is the apparently preponderance of unrealistic transfers, which see transfers of big players between bitter rivals, which, while it does happen, doesn't happen that often - which will see FIFA 21 roll out new transfer options that will offer human and AI-controlled teams with new ways to sign players.
Gamers will be able to make loan to buy offers optional, as well as future transfer fees to be mandatory and AI-initiated swap proposals between managers.
Issues with the youth academy part of the mode have also been noted, with the more meticulous types preferring a more hands-on interface and greater options in the development of players.
Another request that has appeared on FIFA forums has been the ability to customise club kits instead of having to wear the same kit with the same sponsor despite moving a number of seasons in the virtual future.
Changes to Volta
The latest enhancements will see an improved Volta Mode, which will enable players to have more social street football with the addition of Volta Squads - a gameplay feature that will allow four players to play together or join the community alongside other Volta Football players in 5v5 gaming.
The all-new featured battles mode allows gamers to play against AI-controlled star players and squads to compete for points and rewards.
EA Sports
Leagues & competitions
EA Sports' FIFA series has long been the most far-reaching football simulation game when it comes to officially licensed players and teams, but they have been hit with some big losses in recent years.
There was no Juventus on FIFA 20 for example, while River Plate and Boca Juniors were also initially unavailable. As well as that there were some issues with licensing for international teams, including Brazil.
They won't be able to get Juventus back, but they can perhaps make up for it somewhat with the addition of more officially licensed competitions.
It is unlikely, given the preference for EA Sports to launch a 'World Cup' edition of the game, but a tournament mode similar to the classic 'Road to World Cup' games, would be a welcome addition.
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