EA Sports FC 25: Same Old Song, With a Few New Notes
Okay, you know the drill. We have yet another date with EA Sports FC, and the perennial desperate-for-an-upgrade-ride question for us die-hard fans is: what’s changed, and is it really worth FC 25’s price tag now that FC 24 is still collecting dust? We don’t really expect the game to be entirely new. This is a yearly sports game, but we do expect enough to upgrade. After years and years of thoroughly engaging with the game both offline and online, I have a few thoughts.

In my opinion, the sports game genre seems to be gaining steam this year. EA’s own releases like EA College Football and Madden have shown some promise, and the NBA 2K franchise seems to continue to dominate the market. Which means that EA Sports FC 25 not only competes with itself but adds some more to the pile, and it also competes with the rest of the industry. So, does it? Let’s find out.
The Unavoidable Jank: A Familiar Foe
The jank. For those who have been following the series for this long, I do not need to explain what that means. EA Sports FC 25, despite the polish it offers on the pitch, retains that strange quirk which might be hardcoded into the Frostbite Engine or is otherwise simply the genetic makeup of these kinds of annual titles.

I have witnessed it all in my time with FC 25. We have already mentioned the commentary not completely disconnecting mid-sentence, i.e., not everything falling to silence while Fernando Palomo shouts GOAAAL! Ultimate Team menus, to my relief, although they have been cleaner than last year, don’t completely freeze for a frustrating few seconds. Then there are the strange cutscene glitches: players eerily celebrating clear offside goals as if they have just clinched the Champions League, while ghostly shocked managers stare blankly through the pressers. You even catch the odd player model, which, for a split second or moment, twists into some horrid fantasy.
On the Pitch: The Same Tune, Slightly Remixed
EA Sports FC 25 has a somewhat fun, if minimal, addition to the ‘on-field’ action. Passing has a slight improvement, and there seems to be a tiny increase in player control responsiveness. The new FC IQ system, designed to give more tactical depth, seems to be a somewhat useful addition. It’s not the revolutionary tactical overhaul I'd hoped for; I found myself more often than not falling back to familiar, straightforward approaches as opposed to more complex, intricate ones. It's not an unwelcome addition, but at this point in time, it has not developed to a zone where tactical depth could be very useful. It feels like a feature with potential that hasn't quite blossomed into something truly impactful yet.

Even as the described ‘Defending’ remains a frustrating unpredictability, achieving a well-timed tackle or an intelligent interception is still rewarding if it is done in the right way. Many of the goals scored in the game are truly satisfying, and this is thanks to attacking plays and the animation fluidity in the box. It is clear that the central game is still fun and rewarding, even if the parts around it and its polish could still be improved. Because of the ever-present enjoyment of it, it can be said that even in its basic form, there are still some fun moments stemming from it.
The Bottom Line
EA Sports FC 25 strikes a strange balance. It is the best football video game available to the public, but only because every other option is just that bad. It does not lag behind its predecessors, and some features, like the inclusion of mixed gender career modes, indicate some genuine forward-thinking. The new Rush mode is also a nice addition, offering quick and chaotic fun.

The mix of bugs, frustrating AI, and the omnipresent shadow of Ultimate Team’s pay-to-win mechanics creates a jaded feeling that’s all too familiar. Long-term fans will buy it; that’s just the way it is. It offers moments of enjoyment, but also plenty of moments that will make you want to throw controllers. If you’re not eager to use the latest squads or jump into Rush mode, I recommend waiting for a sale. FC 25 is still an evolution, but one that still limps.

































