After months of speculation, drip-fed information, and a very public split from the world football governing body, FIFA, EA Sports has revealed its new title contender. EA Sports FC made its debut on July 13 live from an undisclosed location in Amsterdam — with the full launch on all platforms expected on Sept. 29. Typical for EA Sports announcements, this was a bombastic affair that played out in front of the assembled global press and content creators, and streamed to millions of fans worldwide. It included a procession of football icons: Ronaldinho, Didier Drogba, Luis Figo, and decorated England Lionesses defender Alex Scott all appeared and waved to the crowd. By the time treble-winning goal-machine Erling Haaland walked to the stage like a WWE superstar in green silk pajamas, it was clear that this was less to do with the action on the pitch and more a show of strength off it. More on this later. In terms of the game, FC24 — as it is now abbreviated — will be very familiar to the FIFA crowd. Like that comfy pair of old five-a-side boots, it comes with the tried, tested, and incredibly popular Ultimate Team mode. This season’s twist will include professional players from the women’s game playing alongside the gents. HyperMotionV — the tech that dictates the ebb and flow of the in-game action — will now use more than 180 real-life professional games to, as EA Sports says, “translate the rhythm and fluidity” into FC24. This means the action will be closer to what you see in the stadiums or on TV than ever before, to capture the drama of the world’s most popular sport. The evolution of the graphics and animations continues with the upgraded Frostbite Engine. Players will mimic their real-life counterparts’ movements more accurately, while the kits will have their own physics that will move realistically depending on each player’s stride and playing style. Speaking of which, PlayStyles is an innovation for FC24. Built on the Opta stats database that crunches the numbers on everything a footballer does in a game, PlayStyles will “go beyond the overall rating” to make players feel and play like their real-life counterparts. This was the most interesting part of the showcase — Haaland’s PJs being a close second — and something that has plagued EA Sports’ FIFA for decades. All the players previously felt alike, with the only real difference coming in the speed attributes of each one. Now, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. will have a devastatingly flamboyant approach to the game full of slick tricks and feints, while Liverpool stopper Virgil van Dijk will be strong and have a more noticeable physical presence. Both signature styles will help players stand out on the pitch and contribute to the overall team. It is early days, but it has the potential to allow less exciting players such as Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes to flourish with their movement and passing, rather than just being quick or able to score at will. We also know that the Roshn Saudi League — Saudi Pro League — will return to EA Sports FC. With superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic now plying their trade in the league, it is going to offer a great alternative to the more illustrious competitions this year. Regarding gameplay tweaks, this is all that EA Sports divulged to fans at its star-studded event. There was a “gameplay” trailer, which fans were quick to point out contained around one second of actual footage. As mentioned earlier, this EA Sports event was light on tangible information and felt more like a climax to a marketing campaign — an act that would reestablish it as the football game of choice, which is odd considering it is currently a one-horse race. There is no doubt EA Sports FC will follow in the illustrious stud marks of the popular FIFA series. It is guaranteed to sell millions of copies as it always has because it is the same developers making the same all-conquering game under a different name. However, the cynical view is that the showcase was geared toward reminding its old partner, FIFA, where the power lies. In the runup to the event, EA Sports called on the stars of the game to post their excitement about EA Sports FC on social media. The military-like precision of the social media strategy that followed the initial announcement saw David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Mo Salah and others post about their excitement regarding FC24. This was a direct flexing of marketing might and a reminder of how ingrained EA is within the world of football. Announcing partnerships with the Bundesliga, Serie A, and the English Premier League is a hat trick that will be hard to follow. And bagging UEFA’s exclusive Champions League license is a devastating blow akin to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Bayern Munich-busting injury time goal in the 1999 final. Make no mistake, EA Sports is pulling no punches in its pursuit of dominance. At this stage, it is business as usual at EA Sports, with or without world football’s governing body. This is a continuation of the success it has already enjoyed in the football video game space, and it is not showing signs of slowing down. Over to you, FIFA.