This instalment introduces several features aimed at enhancing gameplay and player engagement, according to EA developers.[4][5] The Ultimate Edition cover features football players Gianluigi Buffon, Aitana Bonmatí, Jude Bellingham, Zinedine Zidane, and David Beckham in a room filled with trophies they have won, symbolising their careers,[6] while the Standard Edition cover features Jude Bellingham alone.[7]
New features
FC IQ
A comprehensive overhaul of the tactical system, allowing players to influence team strategies more effectively. It includes modernised team tactics and smarter AI for teammates, enabling a more dynamic gameplay experience. Players can now emulate the tactics of famous managers, adapting formations fluidly during matches.[8]
Player roles
The game introduces distinct roles for players, enhancing how they fit into team strategies. This feature is designed to ensure that players are utilised effectively according to their strengths, making team composition more critical than ever.[9][10]
Goalkeeper PlayStyles
New gameplay mechanics for goalkeepers have been added, providing more depth to the position and allowing for varied styles of play.[11][12]
5v5 Rush Mode
Players can team up with friends in a new 5v5 mode, which adds a fresh competitive element to the game. This mode replaces VOLTA, which last appeared on EA Sports FC 24.[13][14]
Ahead of the launch, EA Sports announced the members of a launch set of Heroes – usable cards for retired footballers and/or depicting special moments, with comic book art styles created by Marvel and each associated with a league for team chemistry purposes.[22] All are new Heroes with the exception of Yaya Touré.[23] Similarly, Icons (usable cards for retired footballers, depicting their rating at their peak; styled "ICONs" in the game), are returning to Ultimate Team, only associated with their nations for chemistry purposes. The eight new Icons are Gianluigi Buffon, Gareth Bale, Lotta Schelin, Julie Foudy, Lilian Thuram, Nadine Angerer, Aya Miyama, and Marinette Pichon.[24]
EA Sports FC 25 received "generally favorable" reviews from critics for the PlayStation 5 version and "mixed or average" for the Xbox Series X/S version, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[25][26] Additionally, 68% of critics recommended the game, according to OpenCritic.[27]
