Electronic Arts has responded to complaints regarding the unrealistic nature of EA Sports FC 24's Ultimate Team mode. The company's response is that this mode is designed to be a fantasy experience, and for a more realistic gameplay, players should turn to the Kick Off mode in EA Sports FC 24.
Last week, EA Sports unveiled FC 24, a soccer simulation game that will be available on PC as well as current and previous generation consoles starting from September. This game is planned as the initial installment in an annual EA Sports FC series, replacing the FIFA series due to the expiration of EA's licensing agreement with FIFA. One of the notable features in FC 24 is the introduction of the Ultimate Team mode, which allows players to create custom teams from various countries and teams without any gender restrictions.
That last point sparked controversy among some members of the FIFA community, who found it to be unrealistic. Nonetheless, EA vice president John Shepherd responded to these criticisms by clarifying that FC 24's Ultimate Team mode allows players to form their desired fantasy team. After careful consideration, EA Sports concluded that including female athletes in the Ultimate Team mode was the right decision. Shepard also highlighted the presence of Kick Off mode, wherein real-world teams compete against each other.
In the Ultimate Team mode, there are no restrictions on who can be included in a fantasy team, and female players are not at a disadvantage compared to their male counterparts. Female athletes perform equally to male athletes of the same height, weight, and skill attributes based on their real-world statistics. Both men's and women's performance statistics are treated equally, allowing female athletes to compete with male athletes who have similar ratings. It's important to note that the average female soccer player is typically shorter and lighter than the average male player, which is taken into consideration in the gameplay of EA Sports FC 24.
However, there were some FIFA fans who expressed unhappiness with this decision, arguing that it compromised the game's authenticity. Some individuals believed that since women generally struggle to compete with men in real life, the same should be reflected in the game. Others suggested having separate modes for males and females, while some even proposed that women should not be included in the Ultimate Team mode at all. This disagreement among players even led to some threats of boycotting FC 24.
EA justified their decision to include female athletes in FC 24 by highlighting that the game's Ultimate Team mode is a fantasy mode that already features athletes from various teams and countries. By including female athletes, EA aims to provide more exciting gameplay for female players and create a more inclusive gaming experience for a diverse range of fans. EA Sports FC 24 is set to be released on September 29 for multiple platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: IGN
