FC 25: A Breakdown of the New Gameplay Features

EA SPORTS FC 25 is just around the corner, and this year’s edition comes with a bunch of gameplay updates. Alongside these innovations, which aim to make the on-pitch experience more realistic, strategic, and immersive, there’s also an increased focus on how these features could resonate with those who enjoy analyzing football tactics—whether for their in-game strategy or even in real-life contexts like sports betting.

Below, we’ll break down the key updates revealed by EA, focusing on new features like FC IQ, tactical adjustments, AI improvements, and more.

FC IQ: Redefining Tactics and Strategy

One of the biggest changes in FC 25 is FC IQ, which is basically a new system to make tactics and positioning more realistic. This feature is all about variety and making teams feel different based on how they actually play in real life.

The game’s developers broke this down into three parts: Player Roles, Team Tactics, and Smart Tactics.

Player Roles

This feature replaces the previous Work Rate system, adds over 50 new player roles that dictate how players act on the pitch. So, rather than just generic attackers or defenders, you get roles like Box-to-Box Midfielders, Falsebacks, or Shadow Strikers.

These roles aren’t just there for show, they affect how players move and react, and each role has its strengths and weaknesses. It’s supposed to add more depth to the game, but it also means you need to think more about who you’re putting where.

Team Tactics

Tactics have gotten a bit more complex too in FC 25. You can now create up to five custom tactics, switch between them during a match, and even share them with a unique code. There’s also a new dynamic summary feature that lets you see how your tactics are working in real-time.

It’s not groundbreaking, but it adds a bit more control for players who like to tweak their team’s strategy on the fly.

Smart Tactics

This is about making it easier to change tactics during a match without pausing the game and diving into menus. You get real-time suggestions and can make adjustments with the D-pad. It’s more streamlined, which should make mid-match tactical changes less of a headache.

HyperMotionV and AI Improvements

EA SPORTS FC 25 continues to build on HyperMotionV technology, which uses real-world volumetric data to bring lifelike movements to the pitch. In this iteration, over 1,800 players—including 200 new women athletes—are represented with more detailed animations, enhancing realism across all areas of the game.

AI Mimic, another feature that ties into HyperMotionV, ensures that players’ unique body movements are accurately captured, making gameplay feel more fluid. Additionally, improvements to goalkeeper animations—including leg saves, kick saves, and diving saves—offer a more dynamic experience for those controlling the net.

PlayStyle Enhancements

FC 25 introduces new Goalkeeper PlayStyles, which add depth to how goalkeepers behave in different situations. These 6 new PlayStyles also include their plus versions as well and are as following:

Footwork:

• PlayStyle: Improves the goalkeeper’s ability to perform foot saves with extended reach.
• PlayStyle+: Increases the speed and reach of foot saves even further.

Rush Out:

• PlayStyle: Boosts rush speed and reaction time when charging down attackers in one-on-one situations.
• PlayStyle+: Significantly increases rush speed and enhances reaction speed during rushes.

Deflector:

• PlayStyle: Allows the goalkeeper to deflect shots into safer areas with better ball control.
• PlayStyle+: Improves deflection control further, even directing the ball toward teammates when possible.

Cross Claimer:

• PlayStyle: Increases pace and awareness when coming off the line to claim high balls, with enhanced punch reach.
• PlayStyle+: Enhances all aspects further, allowing the goalkeeper to claim crosses with even greater speed and reach.

Far Reach:

• PlayStyle: Improves reach on diving saves, giving access to extended reach animations.
• PlayStyle+: Further enhances the reach on diving saves with even greater extension.

Far Throw:

• PlayStyle: Increases the speed and distance of throws to help start counterattacks.
• PlayStyle+: Boosts the speed and distance of throws even more, making it a key tool for launching quick attacks.

Attacking Overhaul: Precision and Control

The attacking phase of FC 25 has been revamped with a focus on accuracy, skill moves, and ball control.

Passing and Shooting Accuracy

The accuracy of passes and shots now depends more on the player’s skills and the situation they’re in. If you’re trying to pull off a difficult pass under pressure, you’ll notice it’s harder to pull off unless your player is really good at it. It’s meant to reward smarter decisions rather than just spamming through balls and hoping for the best.

New animations, such as off-balance follow-throughs and slippery passes in wet conditions, further enhance the realism of offensive plays.

Skill Moves

 FC 25 brings in new skill moves like the Big Feint and Toe Drag Stepover, while also making existing ones more responsive. These aren’t game-changers, but they do give players a few more tricks to beat defenders.

Dribbling Improvements

Dribbling has been cleaned up with better turning angles and smoother animations. Players should feel more in control when maneuvering the ball, which makes a big difference in tight spaces.

Defensive Innovations

Defending hasn’t been ignored either. FC 25 introduces some new mechanics to give players more options when trying to shut down their opponents.

Professional Fouls

 This new feature lets you commit a foul on purpose to stop an attack, particularly during counterattacks. The downside? You’re almost guaranteed to get a yellow card, and overdoing it could get your player sent off. It’s a risky move, but it can be a useful tool in certain situations.

😡 Professional Fouls – R1+X || RB+A

Deliberately stop an attack. Initially results in a yellow card, excessive use can lead to red cards. pic.twitter.com/e6sdTU8UDy

— chuboi 🇳🇬🇨🇦 (@ChuBoi) July 25, 2024

Defensive Positioning

AI defenders are supposed to be smarter now, especially when they’re about to be beaten. They’ll drop back toward the goal and try to block passing lanes instead of just following the ball. It should make defending more intuitive, but we’ll see how that plays out in practice.

Goalkeeper Movement

Manual goalkeeper movement is now limited to 1-2 steps in any direction, with a short cooldown period, adding more balance to set-piece situations.

Visual Enhancements and Simulation Mode

On the visual side, FC 25 is aiming for more realism. The grass looks better, player models have been tweaked, and animations have been refreshed to make everything feel a bit more polished. These aren’t massive changes, but they help create a more immersive experience.

There’s also a Simulation Mode for players who prefer a slower-paced, more strategic approach to the game. It introduces wind effects and lets you tweak CPU behavior with new sliders. This mode is available in Player Career, Manager Career, and Kickoff, and it’s all about giving offline players a more authentic football experience.

These changes might not be groundbreaking, but they do offer some welcome improvements.

EA SPORTS FC 25 is set to be released globally on September 27th.