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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Saqib Shah

EA FC 25: Release date and everything we know about the new football game

The EA Sports FC 25 leaks are coming fast as the latest entry in the legendary footy series limbers up for its debut.

Not only are there eye-catching new Heroes and Icons card designs for Ultimate Team fans to pick over, but also speculation about who will be this year’s cover star. 

Could England ace Jude Bellingham replace last year’s icon Erling Haaland? It would be the icing on the cake of what has already been a Euros performance to remember from the Real Madrid midfielder. 

His teammate Kylian Mbappé is also high on fan wishlists after previously adorning the cover of FIFA 23, FIFA 22, and FIFA 21. Or maybe Haaland will do a Mbappé (or a Messi or Ronaldo) and return this year - anything is possible.

If the suspense is too much, you’ll be happy to learn it could be over soon. Last year’s cover, including both the standard and group photo Ultimate edition, was revealed on July 10, 2023, followed swiftly by the game’s trailer on July 13. So, be ready for some big reveals in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the leaked card designs - featuring a bright orange and purple Hero card - are the latest in a series of first looks at the upcoming game’s core cards, following the reveals of the TOTW and Gold cards. The majority of EA FC 25 leaks so far have come from footy gaming site FUT Scoreboard.

Here’s everything we’ve heard about EA Sports FC 25 so far, including its release date.

When is EA Sports FC 25 coming out?

Regular FIFA players probably have an inkling as to when the new game will land but, for the casuals, this is what we can glean from past releases.

If EA sticks to its typical schedule, then the new game should arrive on the last Friday of September, specifically September 27.

Of course, it could well be offered in early access a week earlier on September 20 to those who have bought the special edition or members of the EA Play subscription service and Xbox Game Pass.

It's important to note that these dates are still predictions and rumors at this point. EA has not officially announced the release date for EA FC 25 yet. The actual release date will likely be confirmed by EA closer to the game's launch, typically a few months before release.

What’s new?

The three biggest EA FC modes are reportedly getting a new gameplay section each in the new title, according to leakers on X (formerly Twitter).

Five-a-side FUT

Ultimate Team, which sees players building a soccer team by collecting player cards and competing online, may introduce a new option called Penta. The emphasis will be on five-a-side online multiplayer matches with a major twist: You’ll only be able to control a single footballer from your Ultimate Team.

That wild rumour that EA is scrapping Clubs mode? It probably isn’t true. (EA)

Originally named “Rush,” and still subject to change its name ahead of release, the new offering will dole out rewards based on objectives in true Ultimate Team style.

Leakers have also mentioned a new sub-mode for Campaign and Clubs, but details are scarce on those. In the latter, you can create or join a team with friends to compete online against other squads using your own, custom-designed virtual pro player.

Clubs could be staying put

One of the most divisive rumours to emerge of late on social media is that Clubs (previously known as Pro Clubs) is being axed entirely in EA FC 25. It’s unclear where this dubious info surfaced, but the crux of it is that the mode is being cancelled because it doesn’t bring in as much money as Ultimate Team.

Now, the rumour has been bucked by a separate leaker. A dedicated football gaming news provider called FGZ claims the Clubs mode is staying put and will receive a new, totally revamped levelling up system in EA FC 25. The changes will make Clubs feel more managerial, with some as-yet-unnamed elements from career mode imported for extra realism.

Where can you play it?

EA FC 25 will likely be available on every major platform, including PS5, Xbox and PC. The Nintendo Switch may also receive a version of the game, though potentially without some advanced features due to the console’s aging hardware.

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