EA Sports FC 25

{{Infobox video game

| title = EA Sports FC 25

| image = EA FC 25 Cover.jpg

| caption = Ultimate Edition cover art

| publisher = EA Sports

| series = EA Sports FC

| released = 27 September 2024

| platforms = {{ubl|Nintendo Switch|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Windows|Xbox One|[[Xbox Series X and Series S|

Xbox Series X/S]]|}}

| genre = Sports

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| engine = Frostbite

| developer = EA Vancouver
EA Romania

}}

EA Sports FC 25 is a football simulation video game published by EA Sports. It is the second installment in the EA Sports FC series and the 32nd overall installment of EA Sports' football simulation games. The game was developed by EA Sports and was released worldwide on 27 September 2024 for Nintendo Switch,{{Cite web |last=Brian |date=2024-07-25 |title=EA Sports FC 25 will be released on Switch |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/ea-sports-fc-25-will-be-released-on-switch/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Nintendo Everything |language=en}} PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-29 |title=EA Sports FC 25: Release date, price, consoles, pre-order details, trailer, cover & all you need to know {{!}} Goal.com Ghana |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/lists/ea-sports-fc-25-release-date-price/bltf986ce171b0ae3a3 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.goal.com |language=en-GH}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-30 |title=Will EA Sports FC 25 be on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One? |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/will-ea-sports-fc-25-be-on-playstation-4-and-xbox-one |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=90min.com |language=en-GB}} Users who pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition of the game were able to play it on 20 September 2024.

This instalment introduces several features aimed at enhancing gameplay and player engagement, according to EA developers.{{Cite web |last=Ojeda |first=Julian |date=2024-07-17 |title=EA Sports FC 25 Introduces New Gameplay Innovations |url=https://clutchpoints.com/ea-sports-fc-25-introduces-new-gameplay-innovations |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=ClutchPoints |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Callen |first=CMG |date=Jul 18, 2024 |title=EA SPORTS FC 25 COMMUNITY UPDATE: EXCITING ENHANCEMENTS AND INNOVATIONS |url=https://www.checkmategaming.com/de/article/fc-25-deep-dive--714.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=checkmategaming.com}} The Ultimate Edition cover features football players Gianluigi Buffon, Aitana Bonmatí, Jude Bellingham, Zinedine Zidane, and David Beckham in a room filled with trophies they have won, symbolising their careers,{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=2024-07-15 |title=FC 25 Ultimate Edition Cover Features Jude Bellingham, David Beckham, and More Soccer Stars |url=https://za.ign.com/ea-sports-fc-24/197729/news/fc-25-ultimate-edition-cover-features-jude-bellingham-david-beckham-and-more-soccer-stars |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=IGN Africa |language=en-za}} while the Standard Edition cover features Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham alone.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-17 |title=Jude Bellingham named as FC 25 cover star |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40581410/real-madrid-jude-bellingham-named-ea-fc-25-cover-star |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Cover art

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = horizontal

| width1 = 195

| width2 = 178

| image1 = Jude Bellingham during an EA Sports event in September 2024 2.jpg

| image2 = Jude Bellingham during EA Sports on Sep 26 2024.jpg

| footer = Jude Bellingham during the launch event of EA Sports FC 25 in September 2024

}}

The cover for the Standard Edition of EA Sports FC 25 features Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham, captured performing his signature “Belligol” celebration after scoring a stoppage-time winner during El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in April 2024.

The Ultimate Edition cover showcases Bellingham alongside football legends David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Gianluigi Buffon, and Aitana Bonmatí. The five stars are depicted in a trophy room surrounded by 17 of the sport’s most prestigious trophies, symbolizing their illustrious careers.

At 21, Bellingham becomes the youngest global cover star in EA Sports football history and the first English player to feature on the cover since 2011. While talking about being featured on the cover, Bellingham said:

{{blockquote|style=margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; padding-left: 2.8em; padding-right: 2.8em;|1="I played this game with my brother all the time growing up, and I’ve always thought about how incredible it would be to one day be featured on the cover. There have been so many iconic players on the cover over the years, and I am delighted to be the most recent English player to be bestowed with this honour since 2011. I’m also truly honoured to be featured on the cover of Ultimate Edition with true legends of the game both past and present in Beckham, Bonmatí, Buffon and Zidane."}}

Competitions

The UEFA Champions League, UEFA Women's Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League return.{{Cite web |title=EA FC 25 Licensed leagues and competitions |url=https://readwrite.com/ea-fc-25-licensed-leagues-competitions/ |publisher=Readwrite}}

The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Saudi Pro League, Major League Soccer, Ligue 1 and Romanian SuperLiga are amongst the 38 different playable leagues, both men's and women's.{{Cite web |title=FC 25 Leagues |date=17 September 2024 |url=https://www.fifplay.com/fc-25-leagues/}}

The Coupe de France is also fully licensed in the game.{{cite web |url=https://onefootball.com/es/noticias/ea-sports-fc-24-leagues-confirmed-so-far-licensing-competitons-and-more-37845107 |title=EA Sports FC 24 Leagues: Confirmed So Far, Licensing, Competitons And More |publisher=GiveMeSport |date=13 July 2023 }} The Liga Portugal is also licensed, but without its sponsor name (Betclic), mostly due to the anti-gambling policy of EA Sports.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} The league and its sponsor name, however, are licensed in rival game eFootball.

Licenses

Most clubs from FC 24 return, except Serie A clubs Inter Milan, SS Lazio, Atalanta and AC Milan, which are named Lombardia FC, Latium, Bergamo Calcio and Milano FC, respectively, as well as the Belgium national team, and the Canada women's national team, whom EA lost the licenses to.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-01 |title=Why Inter and AC Milan aren't featured in EAFC 25 |url=https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/why-inter-and-ac-milan-arent-featured-in-eafc-25/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=World Soccer Talk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Lewis |date=2024-07-30 |title=EA FC 25 – All 40 confirmed leagues you can use in the new EA Sports FC game |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/gaming/ea-fc-25-40-confirmed-33309221 |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=The Mirror |language=en}} Serie A clubs Roma and Napoli return after four and two years respectively since their last appearances in FIFA 20 and FIFA 22.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=AS Roma and EA SPORTS™ FC announce exclusive, multi-year partnership |url=https://www.asroma.com/en/news/71570/as-roma-and-ea-sports-fc-announce-exclusive-multi-year-partnership |access-date=2024-08-02 |website= |publisher=AS Roma |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cappiello |first=Matteo |date=2024-07-23 |title=Ea Sports™ FC and SSC Napoli announce exclusive, multi-year partnership |url=https://sscnapoli.it/en/ea-sports-fc-and-ssc-napoli-announce-exclusive-multi-year-partnership/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website= |publisher=SSC Napoli |language=en-US}} In addition, Greek club Olympiacos, who last appeared in FIFA 22, return. 11-time Azerbaijan Premier League champions Qarabag, make their debut in the franchise, as well as the Finland women's national team.

Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona play in generic stadiums, having done so since FIFA 20 and FIFA 17 respectively, as both clubs' stadiums are exclusive to KONAMI's eFootball,{{cite web |date=2019-09-19 |access-date=2024-09-21|title=All FIFA 20 Stadiums Revealed - No Camp Nou, Allianz Arena & Juventus Stadium |publisher=Footy Headlines |url=https://www.footyheadlines.com/2019/09/all-fifa-20-stadiums.html |language=en}} while Estadio Más Monumental (home stadium of River Plate), which last appeared in FIFA 19, returns.{{cite web |last=Jerez |first=Raissa |url=https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/all-ea-fc-25-licenses-teams-clubs-leagues-stadiums-confirmed-2818441/ |title=All licensed teams, clubs, leagues & stadiums in EA FC 25 |publisher=Dexerto |date=22 October 2024 }}

Ultimate Team

Ahead of the launch, EA Sports announced the members of a launch set of Heroes – usable cards for retired footballers and/or depicting special moments, with comic book art styles and each associated with a league for team chemistry purposes.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-12 |title=EA SPORTS FC™ 25 Football Ultimate Team™ Heroes - Official Site |url=https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-25/features/football-ultimate-team-heroes |access-date=2024-08-16 |website= |publisher=EA Sports |language=en}} All are new Heroes with the exception of Yaya Touré.{{cite web |title=Yaya Touré EA Sports FC 24 Base Hero |url=https://www.futbin.com/24/player/19036/yaya-toure |website=Futbin |access-date=12 August 2024}} Similarly, Icons (usable cards for retired footballers, depicting their rating at their peak; styled "ICONs" in the game), are returning to Ultimate Team, only associated with their nations for chemistry purposes. The eight new Icons are Gianluigi Buffon, Gareth Bale, Lotta Schelin, Julie Foudy, Lilian Thuram, Nadine Angerer, Aya Miyama, and Marinette Pichon.{{Cite web|author=JUNI|date=25 August 2024|title=EA Sports FC 25 - 8 new Icons added to the Ultimate Team|url=https://fut.wiki/ea-sports-fc-25-8-new-icons-added-to-the-ultimate-team/|website=Fut.Wiki|access-date=25 August 2024}}

Career Mode

Career Mode offers players an immersive experience as they step into the shoes of a football club manager, guiding their team through various seasons. Players can make decisions regarding player transfers, training regimens, and tactics, while also managing the club's finances and building a fan base. The mode features player development, where young talents can be nurtured into stars, and the dynamic nature of rivalries and board expectations adds depth to the challenge.{{Cit|date=March 2025}}

FC 25 Showcase

On 5 December 2024, EA Sports launched a preview version of FC 25 for their new users to try out. This version contains limited versions of the Kick Off and Rush modes with a rotating selection of clubs and teams.{{Cite web |last=Arts |first=Electronic |date=2024-07-17 |title=EA SPORTS FC™ 25 Showcase - EA SPORTS Official Site - Electronic Arts |url=https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-25/fc-showcase |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Electronic Arts Inc. |language=en}} This is the first EA-developed soccer game to contain a free playable version since FIFA 20.{{Cite news |last=Kenmare |first=Jack |date=29 August 2019 |title=FIFA 20 Demo To Be Released On September 12: Game Modes, Playable Teams Leaked |url=http://www.sportbible.com/football/gaming-news-take-a-bow-fifa-20-demo-to-be-released-on-september-12-teams-revealed-20190829 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901104730/http://www.sportbible.com/football/gaming-news-take-a-bow-fifa-20-demo-to-be-released-on-september-12-teams-revealed-20190829 |archive-date=1 September 2019 |access-date=1 September 2019 |work=Sport Bible}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = (PS5) 77/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ea-sports-fc-25/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |title=EA Sports FC 25 (PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews) |website=Metacritic |access-date=27 September 2024}}
(XSXS) 70/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ea-sports-fc-25/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x |title=EA Sports FC 25 (Xbox Series X Critic Reviews) |website=Metacritic |access-date=27 September 2024}}

| OC = 78%{{cite web |url=https://opencritic.com/game/17121/ea-sports-fc-25 |title=EA Sports FC 25 Reviews |website=OpenCritic |date=25 September 2024 |access-date=27 September 2024}}

| GRadar = 4/5{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/ea-sports-fc/ea-sports-fc-25-review/ |title=EA FC 25 review: "Highly playable, yet naggingly familiar" |last=Wilson |first=Ben |date=25 September 2024 |website=GamesRadar+ |access-date=27 September 2024}}

| HCG = 4.5/5{{cite web |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/ea-sports-fc-25-review/ |title=Review: EA Sports FC 25 |last=Wells |first=Cory |date=24 September 2024 |website=Hardcore Gamer |access-date=27 September 2024}}

| IGN = 6/10{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ea-sports-fc-25-review |title=EA Sports FC 25 Review |last=Anderson |first=Robert |date=27 September 2024 |website=GIN |access-date=27 September 2024}}

| SN = 6/10{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/141523/ea-sports-fc-25-review-score |title=EA Sports FC 25 review: Not an ideal role model |last=McMahon |first=Andrew |date=24 September 2024 |website=Shacknews |access-date=27 September 2024}}

| TR = 4.5/5{{cite web |url=https://www.techradar.com/gaming/ea-sports-fc-25-review |title=EA Sports FC 25 review — have we reached peak football sim? |last=Metz |first=Alex |date=26 September 2024 |website=TechRadar |access-date=27 September 2024}}

| TG = 4/5{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/sep/26/ea-sports-fc-25-review-taking-graceful-advantage-of-open-gaming-goal |title=EA Sports FC 25 review — taking graceful advantage of open gaming goal |last=Stuart |first=Keith |date=26 September 2024 |website=The Guardian |access-date=27 September 2024}}

| VGC = 4/5{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/review/ea-sports-fc-25/ |title=Review: EA Sports FC 25 adds the most vital new mode since Ultimate Team |last=Middler |first=Jordan |date=27 September 2024 |website=Video Games Chronicle |access-date=27 September 2024}}

}}

EA Sports FC 25 received "generally favorable" reviews from critics for the PlayStation 5 version and "mixed or average" for the Xbox Series X/S version, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Additionally, 68% of critics recommended the game, according to OpenCritic.

It won the award for "Best Sports / Racing Game" at The Game Awards 2024,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/the-game-award-nominations-2024-1236180078/ |title=The Game Award Nominations: 'Final Fantasy VII Rebirth' Slices Its Way To Victory With Seven Nominations |date=18 November 2024|first=Destiny|last=Jackson|work=Deadline |access-date=18 November 2024}} as well as received a nomination for "Sports Game of the Year" at the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/awards/506810/dice-awards-nominations-2025 | title = Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a GOTY front-runner at the DICE Awards | first = Oli | last = Welsh | date = January 10, 2025 | accessdate = January 11, 2025 | work = Polygon }}