The Video Assistant Referee has provided many controversial moments since its introduction at the 2022 World Cup. Although many fans don't like it, as EA Sports might say, it's in the game. That they're yet to add it to EA FC 24 Coins the EA Sports FC titles is therefore a little surprising. At its heart, EA Sports FC is a sports simulation title and so the aim should be to mimic the sport as best as possible. Love it or loathe it, there's no denying that VAR provides moments of real tension and suspense. The feelings that it evokes are very much in keeping with what we love about the beautiful game and would only improve the series.
Many of the earlier EA Sports FC titles contained the option for 45-minute halves. They required real strategy when it came to making substitutions and provided players with the time needed to recover from earlier mistakes. Some of the score lines may have been a bit ridiculous, but the matches were invariably entertaining for those wanting to just kick back with a friend and enjoy some EA Sports FC.
Theability to play 45-minute halves is certainly something that will only be of interest to a small number of the player base. There's definitely a demand though, as shown by the annual requests for the feature's return. Given the simplicity with which it could be reintroduced to the series, EA's reluctance to do so is therefore a little strange.
EA has been pushing online multiplayer pretty hard over the past decade or so - especially through the game's Ultimate Team mode. Whilst this is understandable given the huge revenue that it generates for them, those who still enjoy playing locally with their friends have been massively neglected.
Although it's possible for multiple players to play on the same team, the lack of detailed stats provides little incentive for them to actually co-operate. Providing each player with a score and keeping track of their offensive and defensive contributions would make the experience infinitely more enjoyable and encourage players to play as a team rather than as individuals.
It's not something that anybody likes to see, but unfortunately, diving is a big part of the game. Back in the late 90's and early 00's, it was also a part of EA Sports FC. It wasn't well advertised, but by double tapping one of the shoulder buttons, players could have their player hurl themselves to the ground. It was difficult to pull off, but when it worked out it was a satisfying feeling to say the least.
Reintroducing the feature could add a new level of strategy to EA Sports FC games. The modern rules on diving would also add a nice risk element to the mechanic, with players being encouraged to use it sparingly to avoid their own team being punished by the ref.
Nothing against Hayden Pennyfeather or Derek Milborrow here, but the use of fictional referees in EA Sports FC titles is holding the series back. It's easy to buy EAFC 24 Coins and see why EA continues to use them, but given how far the series has come in its quest to provide an authentic experience, it's about time they added real referees into the game.
