In FIFA 22, several events in Ultimate Team enliven the game by closely linking upgrades to performances on the real pitch – a concept that has a future.
Once again, players in FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) will have numerous Special Cards at their disposal to raise their team to the best possible level. While the cards get arbitrary improvements over their standard versions in most events, the latest promos focused on a closer link to the real sport.
Because not only the current “Captains” promo, which focuses on selected captains due to their leadership role, is oriented towards football. Even before that, with “Showdown” and “Fantasy”, cards were offered in two consecutive events that could receive stat boosts through performances on the real pitch.
For selected top matches, there are improvements for “Showdown” items that depend on the result of the match. “Fantasy” cards go even more in-depth: over a period of five league games, a card can receive up to three upgrades for both team wins and individual performances such as goals and assists.
Familiar idea with a decisive twist
Of course, the idea of performance-based special cards is nothing new. After all, EA SPORTS presents a new Team of the Week (TOTW) every week, which rewards the best professional footballers of the previous match day with a boosted card.
FUT players are also familiar with so-called dynamic items that can potentially receive upgrades: for example, in the form of “Ones To Watch” and “Headliner” cards. After a certain number of victories of the own club and with every TOTW nomination of the player, there is an upgrade.
However, “Showdown” and “Fantasy” cards have a clear advantage over “Ones To Watch” and “Headliner” versions: EA SPORTS has no possibility to influence the upgrades.
No influence on the part of EA
While the publisher determines the associated players himself in the TOTW, only the performances on the real course count in the current events – similar to the “Road To The Final” items. There is no influence on further boosts, as is possible with “Headliners”, for example.
This is a welcome change for the community. Because time and again in relevant forums the assumption can be read that EA SPORTS, when choosing TOTW players, overlooks cards whose special versions would receive an upgrade.
The most recent example of this theory is Kylian Mbappé, who, after scoring five points in the 5:1 win over Lorient in the TOTW, lost out to teammate Neymar – and thus missed out on a further upgrade for his “Headliner” version for the time being.
The concept works
The developer frees himself from these presumptions by closely linking sport and game and at the same time can make use of another advantage: The clearly defined upgrades over a certain period of time allow a gradual and precise control of the power curve.
And the sport can win, too, as gamers get to root for clubs and players that normally fly below their radar. After all, players benefit from the stat boosts of their cards, even if they don’t play for their heart’s club. Dortmund fans thus root for FC Augsburg or Olympique Lyon, while at the same time Chelsea supporters hope for Monaco and Atletico Madrid – a concept that offers potential on many levels and can have a future.