EA Sports FC 24

HyperMotion technology was first introduced in FIFA 22,[9] with EA touting HyperMotion V as the "biggest leap forward"; promotion for the game highlighted the feature as the game's USP.[10][11] Volumetric data from 180 matches featuring predominantly English and Spanish professional men's and women's teams was used in developing the technology.[10] It is used only in the regular version of the game, available on Windows for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S.[12]

The match data was collected from "cameras around the stadiums", meaning the in-game figures would move more like their real-life counterparts, and was also used to train EA Sports FC's proprietary machine learning algorithms. The machine learning used the data to learn what realistic footballing movement is like, and how to recreate it in other figures. The cameras captured all players on the pitch at once, further informing team movement for the game, as well as ball physics. As well as the cameras, EA used data recorded by StretchSense gloves worn by (outfield) players to record data on how hands moved while playing, training the game's AI on this.[12]

EA also improved their AcceleRATE feature, to AcceleRATE 2.0, with HyperMotion V. Previously, figures were rated with one of three acceleration archetypes that affected their movement when running; AcceleRATE 2.0 uses seven archetypes, though they are still assigned automatically based on physical features rather than on player data (the figure's speed is informed by player statistics).[12]

Optimised by Opta Sports, EA Sports FC 24 introduces PlayStyles, which represent players' on-pitch abilities in-game and give players unique capabilities. PlayStyles+ allows the game to reflect elite players' abilities and are an enhanced version of typical PlayStyles. PlayStyles fall under six categories: scoring, passing, ball control, defending, physical, and goalkeeper (limited to the Be a Goalkeeper modes in Player Career and Clubs).[12] In total, there are 34 brand new PlayStyles.[13]

It is also possible to switch between automatic precision passing and controlling pass mechanics by gamer input.[14]

In previous games, players have been able to use modifiers to allow the footballer figures to play in different positions. With the introduction of PlayStyles, including footballers' alternative realistic positions, and an upgraded chemistry system, the modification option has been removed.[15]

Formerly abbreviated to "FUT" (FIFA Ultimate Team) in previous entries, Ultimate Team is now officially named EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Team and abbreviated to "UT". The mode introduces Evolutions, allowing users to improve eligible players' skills, PlayStyles, and overall ratings as well as levelling up their Player Item designs and backgrounds.[16]

In addition, male and female players can now be chosen in the same team. EA Sports announced that in the release roster, Alexia Putellas, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Kylian Mbappé were tied for the highest overall rating at 91.[17]

Ultimate Team features eight new ICONs, including 5 female ICONs for the first time, with the addition of Mia Hamm, Birgit Prinz, Homare Sawa, Camille Abily and Kelly Smith as well as 3 new male ICONs, Zico, Bobby Charlton and Franck Ribéry.[18]

The combined Clubs and VOLTA Football mode introduces cross-platform play between users on same-generation consoles, expanding cross-play into all of the game's online multiplayer modes. Users can cross-play between PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Windows, while users on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One can cross-play with each other.[19]

The FIFA video games released for the Nintendo Switch since FIFA 20 had been "legacy" editions, each preserving the same game as FIFA 19 with only minor updates (typically only new kits each year) over multiple releases. EA Sports FC 24 was the first game to have a substantial update on Nintendo Switch, bringing it closer in line with (though still technologically behind) the version for other platforms.[20]

The Frostbite game engine is used to run the Switch version for the first time, providing similar gameplay to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game. The Ultimate Team experience and VOLTA Football were also improved in line with the general version, but despite this, the Switch game does not support cross-platform play with either PlayStation 4 or Xbox One.[21] The use of Frostbite included capping the frame rate at 30 fps, when previously it had been higher.[22]

The HyperMotion technology is not available on Switch,[23] and there was no Ultimate Edition released for Switch.[24]

EA Sports FC 24 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[31]

IGN's Andrew McMahon and GameSpot's Richard Wakeling both rated the game 7/10, assessing that it was much like previous installments with some additions but mostly incremental improvements to its longstanding gameplay.[14][32]

McMahon and Wakeling praised the added realism and smoothness of HyperMotion and the updated graphics and animations; both also criticised the AI, touted as an improvement on the FIFA series' use, as disappointing, particularly with goalkeepers.[14][32] They praised several of the developments, including the Evolutions mode of Ultimate Team. McMahon described the PlayStyles as "genuinely impressive" in how many players' attributes were captured, and that applying PlayStyles to customizable players "[makes] a world of difference".[14] Wakeling said that "it feels much more satisfying to perform [relevant] actions" based on a figure's PlayStyle.[32]

Reviewers responded positively to the inclusion of women's players in Ultimate Team, as it adds not only more player options but also more squad building choices given the different styles and attributes. McMahon was satisfied with the nostalgic VOLTA, but was disappointed in the developments to the Career Mode, with both him and Wakeling considering them detrimental.[14][32]

Chris Scullion of Nintendo Life gave the game 8/10 stars, celebrating the near-parity with other consoles and the many new play options for Switch gamers. It particularly highlighted the Ultimate Team experience, something which had previously been a replica of FIFA 17's version on Switch, now including all of the features which had been gradually added over the previous seven years on other consoles. He concluded that it is "the best football game ever released on a Nintendo system."[22] McMahon's review of the Switch version of EA Sports FC 24 compared it to the same game on other consoles, rather than comparing with past FIFA games on Switch, and gave it 4/10 stars. He noted that the lack of HyperMotion was both a detriment in itself and also made the PlayStyles feature very limited. Likening the gameplay and graphics to something from 2006, McMahon also noted that many of the new graphics that made the game feel more modern were absent from the Switch version. He also felt it was the best handheld football game, but qualified that "if you have the option then you'll find a much more enjoyable and modern version on any other platform."[23]

Scullion had welcomed the inclusion of VOLTA on the Switch version, saying that its mini-game and local multiplayer-based gameplay was probably more ideal for the portable Switch than other consoles,[22] though McMahon rated VOLTA poorly due to its need for other online players and the lack of Switch users interested in the mode, making it difficult to access at all.[23]

Pocket Tactics' Connor Christie gave the game 8/10, saying it was fluent despite the reduced frame rate.[33]

Initially, the game had been review bombed by users, many of whom complained about a perceived lack of difference from the previous installment and several bugs.[34][35] One prominent bug was the Ada Hegerberg figure in Ultimate Team, popular due to her 89 overall rating, running away from the ball and otherwise being unusable. Hegerberg herself received abuse from gamers until EA fixed the bug.[36][37][38] Some gamers reacted negatively to the inclusion of women's players, particularly female ICONs, in Ultimate Team, though others felt such a reaction was "pathetic" and similar sentiments.[39]

Gamers also negatively responded to the Elite Season Opener Pack loot box, feeling that EA were aggressively pushing the pay-to-win option of Ultimate Team more than usual: the pack was made available during an early access period that gamers already paid a premium to play, and was worth the equivalent of $30 (it could be purchased as a microtransaction with real currency or with in-game coins earned by winning games). Besides the timing and cost, the value of the items in the pack was deemed sub-par, further angering gamers.[40] Wakeling, noting the controversy in his review, wrote that "it's more than a little dystopian that [EA is] still asking for extra money from its already-paying customers."[32]

EA Sports FC 24 reached 11.3 million players in its first week.[41] It was the top-selling video game for physical copies in the UK for the two weeks following its release.[42]