As authentic as FIFA 25 often looks on the pitch, a lot of immersion is lost in the spectator stands. However, EA SPORTS plans to integrate the first real fans into the game soon.
“I’ve been playing the game for over ten years,” says Tim Hardebusch in the new EA SPORTS trailer. “Being part of the game feels breathtaking.” According to the developer, the German will be integrated into FC 25 “soon” – but not as a player. Hardebusch is not a professional footballer, but a fan of Borussia Dortmund. And as such, he will receive his own avatar for the virtual BVB stand.
He is one of four so-called “SuperFans” that EA SPORTS presented on Wednesday. In addition to Hardebusch, Liverpool supporter Brad Kella, Boca Juniors supporter Marcos Alessio and Mia Solares will also be coming into play. The latter is a fan of the US-based Angel City FC – a women’s soccer team founded in 2020 in Los Angeles that is also popular with many celebrities.
Criticism of face scans for fans
EA SPORTS shows in the trailer how the fan quartet even gets their own face scans to make the faces as realistic as possible. This also leads to criticism in the comments under the associated post on X: “Some footballers in the game have had the same scan since FIFA 16 – EA is hilarious,” writes one user. In general, the feedback on the action is rather mixed.
While some comments celebrate the “SuperFans”, others question the priorities of EA SPORTS. FC 25 has enough server and gameplay issues that the developer should be dealing with rather than authentic in-game spectators.
However, it is unlikely that EA SPORTS will drop the program – after all, they are already looking for new “SuperFans”. The publisher is accepting applications that have to be accompanied by a story. “Tell us why you deserve to be the next real fan to be added to a future FC title,” it says.
