EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Edition (Xbox One / Series X|S)

Anyone who played a FIFA game for any decent length of time knew that the menus were annoying. They were slow to load, awkward to navigate, and quite boring to look at. Under the umbrellas of the change to EA Sports, the games developers have used the switch as an opportunity to significantly overhaul the menus and they are now much improved: easier to use, almost intuitive, and logically laid out.

As well as access to the above-mentioned 30 different leagues, (which includes the Premier League, the Europa League and the Women’s Super League) EA has added two further women’s leagues – namely, the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga and Liga F.

There’s a huge focus on realism in FC 24. EA has added in something called playstyles, which makes gameplay look even more realistic. As always, motion capture techniques along with real-world player data from various sources, the newly minted playstyles (more about which below) will give players unique capabilities that make their way of playing look and feel more authentic.

Another improvement is found in HyperMotion, now upgraded to HyperMotion V (with the v standing for volumetric data which used footage captured by cameras around stadiums from over 180 top tier matches to recreate authentic players), which continues to develop the fluidity and rhythm of how players move on the pitch. The advanced Frostbite Engine, helps play look even more realistic, enabling you to see the ripple in players’ shirts as they move.

The Nitty Gritty

As always, each new game relies on bringing even more real clubs into the fold and this game is no different. New licenses include Spain's Liga F, the Frauen-Bundesliga from Germany, and South Korea's men's second division K League 2.

Returning the data capture systems, the game benefits from over 11,000 in- game animations – compared to just 6,000 in the previous game, the last to bear FIFA’s name. Player movement has also been thoroughly assessed and divided into seven different archetypes: from controlled to explosive with graduations – the middle ground is ‘Controlled Explosive’ in which the player has half controlled characteristics, and half explosive. (See below).

New to this game are PlayStyles which fall into six categories: scoring, passing, ball control, defending, physical, and goalkeeper. With all the various options, there are as many as 34 brand new PlayStyles so you can tailor your preferred players very precisely.

Ultimate Team returns, and now allows gamers to improve their eligible players' skills, their PlayStyles, and their overall ratings. They can also level up their Player Item designs and backgrounds. In a nice move that, Ultimate teams can now hold both male and female players for a truly magical fantasy team.

The roster has some new faces and ratings, with Alexia Putellas, Kevin de Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe all sharing the highest rating of 91. This game is the first to include the French Ballon d’Or – and despite all the changes, it is still the game that fans know and love!

All About New Acceleration Types

There are three base Acceleration Types: namely, Controlled, Explosive, and Lengthy. Most players are Controlled, but now you can add other elements to arrive at a nicely diverse cast of players. Explosive players tend to be shorter and more agile than other players, resulting in a greater initial burst of acceleration after which they slow down. Taller and stronger players are classified as Lengthy, having both height and stamina. This game introduces four new types to choose from:

Controlled Explosive: 50℅ Controlled, 50℅ Explosive

Mostly Explosive: 70℅ Explosive, 30℅ Controlled

Controlled Lengthy: 50℅ Controlled, 50℅ Lengthy

Mostly Lengthy: 70℅ Lengthy, 30℅ Controlled