Think FUT Pack Luck Is Random? EA’s Patent Says Otherwise

A growing number of EA SPORTS FC ( formerly EA SPORT FIFA) players are starting to believe that Football Ultimate Team (FUT) rewards aren’t as random as they seem, and there might be some truth to that.

A U.S. patent filed by EA reveals a system designed to dynamically adjust in-game rewards based on how players behave. It doesn’t name EA FC or Ultimate Team specifically, but the mechanics described in the document line up eerily well with what many players have experienced this year.

And if the patent is being used in any way, it could completely change the way we understand “pack luck.”

What’s in the patent?

EA’s U.S. Patent No. 10166479 B1 outlines a method for “dynamically generating and modifying rewards” in video games based on individual user behavior. The idea is that rewards such as in-game items or packs aren’t just random. They could be influenced by how often you play, how quickly you complete tasks, or even your skill level.

Here are a few key mechanics mentioned in the system:

• Speed of Completion: The patent suggests that completing in-game tasks quickly (like SBCs or objectives) might increase the chance of better rewards. Players who take longer might see a drop in quality as this is possibly a subtle way to encourage faster, more frequent engagement.
• Activity Level: Logging in less often might actually work in your favor. The system is designed to boost rewards for players who play less frequently, potentially as a way to pull them back into the game. On the flip side, daily grinders might get less valuable items on average.
• Player Classification: Players could be grouped into skill levels such as beginner, intermediate, veteran, and so on. The game might then adjust pack contents based on where you fall in that system. Newer players may get more enticing pulls to keep them playing.
• Reward Balancing: If you’ve recently packed a top-tier player, the system might intentionally lower the quality of your next few packs to maintain a balance. That means hot streaks could be followed by cold ones on purpose and not coincidence.
• Behavioral Tracking: Things like quitting matches, losing often, or spending habits could feed into the algorithm and affect what kind of rewards you get going forward.

More than just RNG?

While we don’t have confirmation that games like FC 25 directly uses this system, it’s hard to ignore the similarities. The feeling that pack luck gets worse after a big pull, or that returning after a break gives you better rewards, might not be your imagination after all. These reward patterns that have been long debated in the community, now have some potential technical backing.

It’s important to note that many game companies file patents they don’t fully implement. But given how central Ultimate Team is to EA’s business model, and how precisely this patent describes real-world scenarios players report, the possibility feels very real.

In the end, you could also boil down this discussion to be about any game as risk and reward will always be present when you have an outcome that is undecided between victory and defeat. Lucky Nugget Slot Games are an example of this. Even though the game itself is often distilled down to a very simple, straightforward binary, it can still contain all of those emotions.

As you add layers, either in the form of aesthetics with sports variants like Soccer Striker, or with additional reels or RPG elements, you can see the complexity of the game change but not the central emotions behind the playing of them.

Manipulating the “Dopamine Loop”

This kind of reward adjustment falls right in line with modern retention strategies in live-service games. The goal? Keep players engaged by rewarding them just enough to keep coming back. That anticipation of a “big pull” triggers the same kind of reward pathways in the brain that gambling does, especially when the game subtly changes the odds depending on your behavior.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because the psychology behind loot boxes and player retention has been under the spotlight for years. But now, we might be looking at the technical framework that makes it happen behind the scenes.

Looking at Pack Luck a Little Differently Now

If you’ve ever wondered why your Ultimate Team packs suddenly go cold, or why your first login in weeks lands you something huge, this patent might have some answers. It doesn’t guarantee that EA is currently using this system in FC 25 but it does show that the company has explored the idea in serious detail.

So next time you open another disappointing pack and wonder if it’s just your luck… it might not be random at all.