Commonly referred to as "the beautiful game,” soccer (or football in some countries) can offer a never-ending supply of emotions, mystery, surprise, and excitement -- sometimes all at once. Here are five excellent soccer games that will help get you excited for 2018’s World Cup.

1. Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2016

PES is just one of those immersive football series that makes you want to lock yourself in the room and throw away the key. Although PES 2016 has spent considerable time in FIFA’s giant shadow, PES 2016 is incredibly underrated and fun.

For example, FIFA is often criticized for retaining the same game engine year in and year out, and that’s where PES separates itself from the crowd. Not only does it include some fascinating and heart-pumping interactions between players and referees, but there is also little predictability.

In other words, this game will keep you guessing -- who will win tackles, who will land crosses, or whether shots will reach their intended destination. After all, the game should be more reminiscent of real-life soccer than a massively rigged game.

In fact, the 2016 version went on to be nominated for "Best Sports/Racing Game" at the 2016 BAFTAS, just as FIFA was. Despite losing to the excellent Rocket League, PES 2016 is full of some exciting and unpredictable footy games.

2. FIFA 16

Considered the nemesis of PES 2016, FIFA 16 is cleverly named after the association behind global football, Le Fédération Internationale de Football Association. With a strong name like that and a longstanding history of excellent commitment to FIFA fans, the 2016 version of the game quickly became something of a cult hit.

FIFA gamers are known to purchase every single new release, sometimes even queuing just as much as for a Black Friday event. Or, you could say that FIFA is the Apple of footy.

Whatever you choose to compare it with, it’s a fact that EA Sports has sold over 100 million copies of this game to soccer lovers all around the globe. While FIFA 12 will forever hold a warm spot for gamers, FIFA 2016 still has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Despite not being ranked a classic that should be remembered for generations, it is an excellent option for wasting away your weekends. It features slick graphics and interactive animations, and it’s always satisfying to see the evolution of the game from one year to the other.

Another great feature of FIFA 16 is the introduction of Ultimate Tournament modes, which let you create a team of superstars -- unless you already have the next game on our list.

More specifically, this article will shy away from football betting or stadium games. Instead, we’re talking computer graphics, and skills relating to your PS4 or PCs. From the classic days of DOS to our now action-packed virtual reality games, here are five excellent soccer plays that will warm up your excitement levels for 2018’s World Cup.

3. Football Manager 2016

Do you like a good challenge, or do you get easily distracted and bored by just tossing the ball from one player to the other? Well, then you’re in the right place.

If you are looking to answer the question of whether you’re a Special One or a Wally with a Brolly, Football Manager 2016 can show you the intense and immersive world of trying to win championships during the worst times of the league.

This game, like others on the list, is proud to get significant upgrades and features year after year, and it offers a more top-down camera angle than FIFA's on-the-pitch action. Organization, team spirit, the capacity for making quick and nitty-gritty decisions -- these are some qualities that you’ll need to possess before pushing your team towards victory and success.

Don’t also forget about the most "fun" parts: dealing with the press, in-team squabbling between players, devastating injuries that set team progress back, and more potential frustrations. While the game is interactive, it’s also hard and not for the weak-minded.

Having achieved critical acclaim, it made the list due to the combination of in-depth management options with user-friendliness and accessibility. Do you have what it takes?

4. FIFA 17

FIFA 17 brings different elements of interest. Unlike PES, last year’s FIFA game slowly yet surely shied away from conventional gameplay mechanics, instead focusing on the optimization of clever story plots.

That's right, in FIFA 17, you can become part of “The Journey” -- the tale of how a fictional character called Alex Hunter makes his gritty way through the Premier League. It’s a display of dreams, sweat, broken spirits, and commitment, as the story follows Alex and former striker Jim Hunter working together and achieving football success. Despite this, there isn’t much that’s changed; if the story is not your cup of tea, you can skip it altogether, going back to the classic footy games. Even better: You also get a taste of improved pacing, although most players will continue to appear lethargic at times. All in all, FIFA 17 breaks the barriers of conventional football games, giving us an innovative alternative to the much loved PES.

5. FootLOL

While tossing the ball around and competing against your friends is all good fun, FootLOL breaks any conceptions you might have regarding soccer games. To better put things into perspective, the game shows the amusing side of throwing sheep, cows, and other animals at your opponents and referee.

And so if you prefer a footy game that comes dressed in humor galore, don’t let this one pass. The game begins with a round of training before throwing you into the deep end, and you can choose to battle against either your friends or a smart AI. Equipped with over 60 levels of potential mayhem, FootLOL is the optimal antidote to the conventional badge-kissing seriousness of games like PES or FIFA.

---

Hopefully these soccer games will scratch that footy itch until the World Cup is here! Be sure to stick with GameSkinny for more game news, reviews, tips, guides, and more!

If you're a passionate or relatively 'hardcore ' gamer, then you've probably considered setting up a dedicated room or space just for gaming. Whether you're a PC or console gamer, there's nothing quite like having your own custom-designed space for sitting down with your controller or keyboard in hand.

So if you are looking to set up a dedicated gaming space, what should you be thinking about? Of course there's your ideal console or PC setup (we'll leave that to another post), and choosing the right kind of chair (again, a whole post on its own), but there are several other key considerations you should be thinking about too. So let's dive straight in!

Image credit - HomeBNC

Size

This is possibly the most important consideration, as the size of the space will dictate a lot of your other choices, and will also impact on your enjoyment and experience of the room. It shouldn't be too large, as this will negatively impact immersion in the game, the sound and the overall comfort of the space. On the other hand, too small and you'll feel cramped and probably hot after a few hours gaming (you also don't want the chair or couch to be too close to the screen). Spend some time thinking about the ideal size and plan which room or space in your house will be most suitable for what you want.

TV / Screen / Projector

When it comes to the screen you're playing on, it's generally fair to say that bigger is better. You don't want to be sat squinting at a tiny screen, so if you can invest in a large LED or OLED TV it will make a world of difference to the impact of the room, and your enjoyment of gaming. If you're a PC gamer, then you can't go wrong with 2 or 3 28-inch monitors, although you may have to spend a bit to get them.

If you really want to push the boat out, opt for a projector onto a large, white wall - there's nothing quite like experiencing games such as Dark Souls or FIFA 17 on a huge projected display.

Speakers

You should never overlook the sound in a gaming room setup, and unless you plan to do most of your gaming wearing headphones, you will want to invest in some quality speakers. Wireless speakers are an ideal option, particularly if you can invest in a 5.1 or 7.1 channel surround-sound setup. Trust me, it will make all the difference.

Soundproofing

This isn't a necessity by any means, but if you do plan to invest in a surround sound setup then you might want to think about soundproofing the room, so you don't end up annoying the neighbours (or anyone else living in your house!).

Wiring

Pulling together numerous consoles, TV's, monitors, electronics, controllers, lighting and sound systems (along with anything else you might want in your gaming room) inevitably means lot of wires, and speaking from experience, that can get annoying. Put some thought into how the wiring will work before you set up your gaming room, and you'll be glad you did when the time comes to sit down and play. Whether you opt for cable tidies, hidden storage or under-carpet wiring, putting some thought into this beforehand can make the room look a lot better when it's finished, and can remove some future annoyances (and trip hazards). 

Lighting

Lighting should be a crucial consideration for your gaming room, as it can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your room. The lighting can not only make your room look incredibly cool, but there's even evidence that lighting can have an impact on your mood and cognitive functioning (as can levels of fresh air). Check out this post for some great ideas on how to light your gaming environment. 

Have I missed anything? What do you think is crucial to the ideal gaming room? Got some pics to share of your own setup? Let me know in the comments below!

I have been playing games in the FIFA franchise for as long as I can remember and have enjoyed every aspect, every new feature and the style of gameplay they can bring to the pitch.

But the latest installment really sings: Improved graphics, new game mode features and being able to play as the best teams in the world are just a few of the things what makes FIFA 17 such a great game.

EA Sports have put a lot of time and effort into FIFA 17, and the studio has swapped their previous Ignite graphics engine for the more powerful Frostbite engine. This is a huge leap forward in terms of visual representation in a sports game. The Frostbite engine is what helps support the graphics in the Battlefield and Mirror’s Edge games series -- and we all know how graphically superior those games are.

With this, FIFA 17 shows us new player expressions during in-game play, from anger to joy and surprise, adding a greater sense of realism to the pitch. EA Sports have also take advantage of this in the way they have designed the stadiums. The lights glow with a new brilliance and the grass ways in the grass with every breeze.

FIFA 17 is truly a sight to behold. 

FIFA 17 comes with new and improved A.I interplay, attacking options, physical interplay and set pieces, which have really changed the dynamic of the game. Set pieces like penalties are a lot harder to take; it is a lot more difficult to find the top corner from such close range. And playing against an A.I is a little bit more challenging than it was in previous games, so that makes it a lot more fun -- and a lot less boring.

What's more, you can play as some of the best teams in the world because FIFA 17 has licensing for all the top footballing leagues. You can play as Barcelona, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Juventus and many more. Be the manager, swap, rotate and transfer players, or be the player and show how good you are on the ball, using skill, speed and teamwork to get past the opposing team.

But really, these gameplay and mechanics additions aren't too much of a surprise for a game of this caliber. The FIFA games have always been a leader in dynamic gameplay options. The likes of a scouting system, where gamers can send scouts to various countries to find “non-real” footballers was a fantastic feature they added a few years ago.

And FIFA 17 has brought out another incredible feature similar to that -- The Journey! This game mode allows you to personally experience what it is like to be a young and upcoming football star. Gamers play as Alex Hunter, a young English prospect, joining him on his journey to becoming one of the world’s best footballers. 

It's really a smashing experience! 

At the end of the day, FIFA 17 still brings us our fan-favorite game modes like Team of the Week (TOTW), Team of the Year (TOTY), FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) and much more!

The online gameplay for FIFA 17, and indeed FIFA in general, has been something other competitive games can’t compete with. FIFA 17 offers a smoother and better online experience than the likes of PES 2017, which will bring you a lot of lag issues.

Overall, FIFA 17 is a great game --it will keep you entertained for many hours. New game features like The Journey, improved graphics and detail to improving the gameplay make it the best sports game to date.

Of course, there are areas for improvement that will hopefully take place in FIFA 18  (for example, the penalty taking system is far to obtuse and difficult and EA could really put the Frostbite engine to better use). But the good out weighs the bad here. There are too many positives in the game to focus on what the negatives are.

Get. This. Game. 

Thanks to UKinGAME for letting me play & test the game.

FIFA 17 released today, to the delight of fans of real football everywhere. The game's mechanics and feel are very similar to FIFA 16, but the developers threw in a few quirks and additions that you'll need to take advantage of if you really want to bend it like Beckham. Luckily, we're here to help. This guide to FIFA 17 is designed for players both new and old, so even if you think "first touch" is something that you and your summer camp significant other did behind the cabins after hours, we'll bring you up to speed.

Know the basics

If you've never played a FIFA game before, the first thing you'll notice is that you're thrown right into the action without really knowing what you're doing. You'll play through a FA Cup final match between Chelsea and Manchester United, and if you can stomach looking at Wayne Rooney's stupid face long enough, use this time to get comfortable with the controls. Once you're done, you'll notice that there isn't really a tutorial as such, which is why you probably googled "FIFA 17 guide" in the first place.

That said, there is a kind of makeshift FIFA tutorial by way of the skill games on the play menu. You can learn basic passing, shooting, and dribbling skills there. Pay particular attention to the shooting drills as well, and attempt finesse and chip shots in order to get comfortable with them. Since the height of your shot is determined by how long you hold the shoot button, this practice will be necessary to ensure that you don't end up launching shots over the crossbar when you're one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Again, these are more drills than tutorials, and pass over some necessary points in the interest of simplification.

Listen to your trainer

The good news is that despite the fact that FIFA 17 doesn't have a guide or tutorial in the game, it does have a live "skills trainer". The bad news is that all it does is cycle through the game's controls on offense and defense. That said, this trainer is very handy in exhibition games, as it'll allow you to get to grips with the different types of passing moves, shots, and defensive challenges you have at your disposal. It's also very helpful in set pieces like corner kicks.

You'll also, if you're playing the game's career mode, be able to keep track of manager feedback. Listen to it, and look at your match score at the end. You'll be able to see what you did well and what you did poorly, and see whether or not you were in position for a majority of the match -- key for footballers anywhere on the pitch.

Know your moves

Having said that, if you don't have time for all that work, we'll go over some of the key offensive and defensive moves here so that you know how to use them to their full effect.

Passing

Normal pass

The normal pass is just what it sounds like. You'll kick the ball to a teammate, and he or she will receive it. This is a safe option, and if you're cycling the ball around the box or around your defenders trying to find open space, this should be the pass you use, since the passer doesn't lead the receiver into open space.

Through pass/threaded through pass

This pass is the one you're going to want to use when a striker or winger is making a run, usually. The passer will lead their target, allowing the receiver to run up and receive the ball, ideally after having beat their defender on a run towards the goal. These passes are more risky since they're designed to go through traffic, so make sure that you have a good angle.

Lob pass

This is another risky bet, especially if you're passing into traffic. You're essentially betting on the height and the strength of the pass receiver to get into position to receive the lob pass over the defender. It's not a bad strategy, especially when you want to advance the ball.

Shooting

Normal shot

Your standard bread-and-butter shot. Use this when you're not one-on-one with the keeper, to try and beat him with speed.

Chip shot

If you've beaten your defender and are one-on-one with the keeper, you might want to try a chip shot depending on how far out of the goal the keeper is. The idea is to time the shot just right, so that the ball arcs over the keeper and into the back of the net. It's a very situational shot, but if you notice that the keeper is out of position, it is a sure-fire way to bury a goal.

Finesse shot

This is another shot designed to beat a keeper one-on-one. Use this one if the keeper is in position, and you don't think a chip shot will work.

Defending

Standing tackle

This should be your bread-and-butter defensive move. You're unlikely to be carded for a standing tackle, and if you miss, you won't find yourself out of position. If it's successful, you'll pop the ball out, and most likely come away in full control.

Sliding tackle/strong tackle

This is more of a desperation move, if you feel like an attacker is on a break. If you get the right angle, you can poke the ball away with a slide tackle, but you really need to be careful as this can lead to a penalty kick, or even a yellow or red card. Never tackle from behind or the side -- try to always attack from the front. This will help you avoid cards and penalties.

Contain/teammate contain

If you want to play the tactics game, you can hold the contain button to press the ball handler and try to force a mistake. You can also call a teammate over to do the same thing, but beware because this does often leave your defense out of position. The contain function is best used on the sidelines, where the ball handler has few places left to go.

Putting it all together

Now that you know your toolkit, the best way to test it out is by playing. It'll also give you a chance to try out those fancy dribbling moves and celebrations against real opponents. You'll be man of the match in no time! 

How are you enjoying FIFA 17? Let us know in the comments! We'll be here in the meantime, hoping that our favorite English Premier League team doesn't get relegated.

Are PES 2017's licensing woes causing you confusion? One of the biggest downfalls within PES 2017 is that fact that official team licensing is almost non-existent due to EA Sports behemoth football game, FIFA, owning the rights to almost all of the teams and stadiums. But Konami has fought hard this year to try and secure some of the biggest teams in soccer by acquiring the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, which are all being signed as officially licensed teams of Pro Evolution Soccer 2017. 

As discussed in our review of Pro Evolution Soccer 2017, Konami has given the fans a customization system that allows them to completely edit almost all aspects of leagues, teams, kits, logos and even stadiums. The vast amount of features that can be customized in PES 2017 allows it to compete and be on par with FIFA 2017.

However, editing and replacing all of the team names, leagues, kits and stadiums yourself, can reportedly take up to 40+ hours. While there are much simpler options available, such as downloading option files that are pre-made by other fans, many find enjoyment to do it themselves.

So if you are looking to play as your favorite real life team but can't work them out among the list of fake names, check out the guide below.

English League | Premier League

Konami has managed to secure both Arsenal and Liverpool FC as part of their line-up of officially licensed teams. But unfortunately, Konami was unable to secure one of last year's biggest teams, Manchester United. Here's their full lineup:

• Arsenal
• East Dorsetshire - Bournemouth
• Lancashire Claret - Burnley
• London FC - Chelsea
• South Norwood - Crystal Palace
• Merseyside Blue - Everton
• Yorkshire Orange - Hull
• East Midlands - Leicester
• Liverpool FC
• Man Blue - Manchester City
• Man Red - Manchester United
• Teesside - Middlesbrough
• Hampshire Red - Southampton
• St Red - Stoke
• Wearside - Sunderland
• West Glamorgan City - Swansea
• North East London - Tottenham
• Hertfordshire - Watford
• West Midlands Stripes - West Bromwich Albion
• East London - West Ham

English 2nd Division | The Championship

• West Midlands Village - Aston Villa
• SY Red - Barnsley
• West Midlands City - Birmingham
• Lancashire Blue - Blackburn Rovers
• Hounslow - Brentford
• East Sussex - Brighton and Hove Albion
• SW Red - Bristol City
• ST Yellow - Burton Albion
• South Wales - Cardiff City
• Derbyshire - Derby County
• West London White - Fulham
• West Yorkshire Town - Huddersfield
• East Anglia Town - Ipswich Town
• Yorkshire Whites - Leeds
• Tyneside - Newcastle
• Norfolk City - Norwich City
• Notts Reds - Nottingham Forest
• LN White - Preston North End
• North West London - QPR
• Berkshire Blues - Reading
• Yorkshire Reds - Rotherham United
• South Yorkshire Blues - Sheffield Wednesday
• LN Azure Blue White - Wigan Athletic
• WM Gold - Wolverhampton

Italian League - Serie A

• PM Black White - Juventus
• Sansagiulo - Sassuolo

Italian 2nd Division | Serie B

• MA Zebra - Ascoli
• Alvegiaro- Avellino
• BAGNARONI - Bari
• CM Yellow Red - Benevento
• Brutie- Brescia
• ER White Red - Carpi
• ER Black White - Cesena
• DL Crimson - Cittadella
• TI Yellow Blue - Frosinone
• Litolizano - Latina
• PM Blue White - Novara
• Prastogna - Perugia
• TO Blue Black - Pisa
• Pailamudoveli - Pro Vercelli
• CM Bergundy - Salernitana
• ER Sky Bly - SPAL
• Spremonese - Spezia
• Teccarina - Ternana
• Drepanumese - Trapani
• DL Blue - Verona
• Vocchaioni - Vicenza
• LR Blue White - Virtus Entella

Spanish League | La Liga

This year Konami has managed to secure the official licenses for Atletico Madrid and also Barcelona.

• PV Sky Blue White - Alaves
• PV White Red - Athletic Bilbao
• Atletico Madrid
• Barcelona
• GA Cyan - Celta Vigo
• GA Blue White - Deportivo La Coruna
• PV Blue Red - Eibar
• CT Blue White - Espanyol
• AN Red White - Granada
• CN Yellow Blue - Las Palmas
• MD Blue White - Leganes
• AN Cyan White - Malaga
• NC Red - Osasuna
• AN Green White - Real Betis
• MD White - Real Madrid
• PV Blue White - Real Sociedad
• AN White Red - Sevilla
• AS Red White - Sporting Gijon
• ED White Orange - Valencia
• ED Yellow - Villareal

Spanish Second Division | Segunda Division

• MD Canary Yellow - Alcorcon
• AN Scarlet White - Almeria
• AN Yellow Blue - Cadiz
• AN Viridian White - Cordoba
• ED White Green - Elche
• MD Cobalt Blue - Getafe
• CT Red - Gimnastic
• CT Carmine White - Girona
• AR Burgundy Blue - Huesca
• ED Blue Burgundy - Levante
• GA Red White - Lugo
• IB Red Black - Mallorca
• CL Red Black - Mirandes
• CL Red - Numancia
• AS Blue - Oviedo
• MD Scarlet White - Rayo Vallecano
• CT Red Black - Reus Deportiu
• AN White red B - Sevilla Atletico
• CN White Blue - Tenerife
• MC Navy Blue - UCAM Murcia
• CL Purple - Valladolid
• AR White Blue - Zaragoza

Portugal League | Primeira Liga

This years Portugal League features official licenses for SL Benfica and Sporting CP.

• Arimelcao - Arouca
• Blemotao - Belenenses
• SL Benfica
• Borfecao - Boavista
• Bresigne - Braga
• T M Blue Red - Chaves
• Estralpao - Estoril
• DL Azure Blue - Feirense
• Maseadeira - Maritimo
• Meraszilho - Moreirense
• Nardimcol - Nacional
• Podefteza - Pacos de Ferreira
• DL Blue White - Porto
• Rovaneche - Rio Ave
• Sporting CP
• BA Yellow Green - Tondela
• Visicutao - Vitoria de Guimaraes
• Verfolcao - Vitoria de Setubal

Does the licensing issue within Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 effect you? Let us know in the comments section below.

While playing on your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 may be a thing of the past, many people around the world are still using their last generation console every single day. This seems to be a very common occurrence among gamers that enjoy playing the sporting genre, hence why many major sporting developers still release on the last-gen consoles.

However, one of the major downfalls of gaming on last generation consoles is that they are very limiting, which is why many developers are steering clear. This brings us to FIFA 17. While the game is launching on last-gen consoles, it will suffer from limitations that will affect a number of features and modes that can only be played on the Xbox One, PS4 and PC. 

But don't fear, as EA Sports are committed to bringing you gameplay innovation and popular game modes and features. EA has even stated:

"There are still big changes coming to fans playing on those systems with gameplay innovations, audio enhancements and the brand new Squad Building Challenges for our FIFA Ultimate Team fans. In addition, Career Mode sees the edition of Pre-Season Training and Career Mode Training to add more depth to your season. "

Here are some of the features that will be available to play on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of FIFA 17:

Squad Building Challenges

Players will have the opportunity to complete challenges and earn unique in-game rewards with the brand new Squad Building Challenges (SBC). Your squad-building skills will be put to the ultimate test as you complete Basic, Advanced, or League specific challenges.

This brand new feature, which will be available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 users, will be updated throughout the season with brand new challenges!

Gameplay

Take advantage of the brand new attacking techniques and the Set Piece Rewrite feature which will let you have even more control over every moment in FIFA 17.

New Attacking Techniques

The brand new attacking techniques will include Low Driven Shots that will give the players more creative freedom to create chances and more opportunities to finish in front of the goal.

Set Piece Rewrite

Bringing variety and creativity to every dead ball situation, FIFA 17 will provide the players with more control over free kicks, penalties, corner kicks and so much more with the brand new feature, Set Piece Rewrite.

New Leagues

Fans of the the J-League and Brazilian Clubs will be excited to hear that these clubs will now be available within FIFA 17. Along with these new additions, the Norway and Netherlands International Women's Teams will also be available. 

Presentation

FIFA 17 will also be adding to their lengthy list of stadiums by introducing Middlesborough's Riverside Stadium and Gamba Osaka's Suita City Football Stadium into the game.

Along with the new stadium additions, EA has promised that FIFA 17's crowds will be the most vibrant and dynamic to date. To help ensure this, a number of new chants will be added to the game. The addition of the Icelandic Clap, the Hala Madrid anthem and a number of high quality chants from LA Liga clubs will add a deeper sense of realism to the stadiums atmosphere.

Game Modes

The full list of available game modes in FIFA 17 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are as followed:

• FIFA Ultimate Team including Squad Building Challenges
• Career Mode
• Be a Pro Player
• Be a Pro Goalkeeper
• Tournament Mode
• Women's International Cup
• Online Seasons
• Online Friendlies
• Skill Games
• Kick-Off
• Play Next Fixture
• Practice Arena

FIFA 17 is set to launch on September 27 in North America and September 29 everywhere else. The game will be available for PS4, Xbox One, PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. 

Are you planning to pick up FIFA 17 for a last generation console? Let us know in the comments section below!

The wait is almost over, as fans are set to receive their first taste of FIFA 17 in the demo that will be launching this Tuesday, September 13. The full FIFA 17 demo can be experienced on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. While the demo will be releasing for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, EA has made no official announcement as to what features will be included.

Along with announcing the release date of the demo, EA has revealed exactly what will be included in the upcoming demo. 

Game Options

For the first time ever in FIFA, live your story on and off the pitch as the Premier League’s next rising star, Alex Hunter. You'll have the opportunity to play a select experience in The Journey which will be limited to playing as one of the world's top clubs Manchester United. 

Kick-Off

Own Every Moment in FIFA 17 gameplay to experience complete innovation in the way players think and move, physically interact with opponents, and execute in attack to put you in complete control of every moment on the pitch.

Skill Games

As the Kick-Off matches are loading, play brand new Skill Games that are included in the FIFA 17 Demo. You'll be able to enjoy 4 Single Player Skill Games and 3 of the brand new Multiplayer Skill Games that will be available in FIFA 17.  

Play as World Class Clubs

There are 12 top clubs included in the FIFA 17 Demo that you'll be able to play as in Kick-Off:

• Manchester United
• Manchester City
• Chelsea
• Real Madrid
• Juventus
• Inter
• Paris Saint-Germain
• Olympique Lyonnais
• Seattle Sounders
• Bayern München
• Tigres U.A.N.L. (MX)
• Gamba Osaka

Stadiums

The FIFA 17 Demo will include 3 authentic stadiums. These will be available to play in Kick-Off. 

• CenturyLink
• Stamford Bridge
• Suita City Football Stadium

EA's marketing strategy for FIFA 17 is very bold, as they have no room to hide with this very generous list of features. EA must be very confident with the current state of FIFA 17, as fans will surely be very vocal if the features do not live up to the hype that has surrounded the game. However, from what we have seen so far, FIFA 17 is shaping up to be the football game to beat and EA's risky move could have a very big payoff. 

FIFA 17 is set to launch on September 27 in North America and September 29 everywhere else. The game will be available for PS4, Xbox One and PC, however, Xbox 360 and PS3 will both have limited features due to the limitations of the last gen consoles.

Let us know in the comments section below what you think of FIFA 17's demo!

The release of FIFA 17's top 50 players has caused quite the upset as among fans as a long-running favorite has finally been dethroned from the number one position. 

For the first time in seven years, Barcelona's very own Lionel Messi is no longer ranked as the best player in the game. Messi now holds a rating of 93 which is one below his previous rank.

The number one spot is now held by the Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo who comes in at an overall rating of 94. Not only has Ronaldo increased his overall rating, he has also increased five out of six of his attributes.

To determine the player ratings, EA has analysed the players based on their performances over the last 365 days in the league and cup competitions.

Despite the upset among fans, the on pitch justification for these ratings are there as Messi had under performed this season compared to Ronaldo. Messi's goal scoring had definitely suffered last season as Ronaldo's 16 goals surpassed Messi's six in the Champions League.

Although, not everyone is happy with the way the ratings have played out as former England footballer, Gary Lineker, has shared his opinions on the matter.

"It's a game. It's not real. Messi is the best passer ever. They are taking the piss! Don't take it to heart."

It has also been rumored that FIFA rival PES, has a new partnership with Barcelona that is set to begin with PES 2017 that is supposedly preventing Messi from being part of the FIFA 17 promotional material. While this is still yet to be confirmed, it would make sense as to why we are not seeing much of Messi in this years FIFA marketing material.

The full list of the top 50 player ratings are as followed:

50. Blaise Matuidi (CDM 86)

49. Marcelo (LB 86)

48. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST 86)

47. Dimitri Payet (LM 86)

46. Arjen Robben (RM 87)

45. James Rodríguez (CAM 87)

44. David Silva (LM 87)

43. Karim Benzema (ST 87)

42. Arturo Vidal (CM 87)

41. Sergio Busquets (CDM 87)

40. Samir Handanovič (GK 87)

39. Mats Hummels (CB 87)

38. Thomas Müller (CF 87)

37. Angel Di María (RW 87)

36. Alexis Sánchez (LW 87)

35. Ivan Rakitić (CM 87)

34. Jan Oblak (GK 87)

33. Leonardo Bonucci (CB 87)

32. David Alaba (LB 87)

31. Hugo Lloris (GK 88)

30. Eden Hazard (LM 88)

29. Giorgio Chiellini (CB 88)

28. Petr Cech (GK 88)

27. Toni Kroos (CM 88)

26. Gianluigi Buffon (GK 88)

25. Marco Reus (LM 88)

24. Andres Iniesta (CM 88)

23. Diego Godin (CB 88)

22. Philipp Lahm (RB 88)

21. Kevin De Bruyne (RM 88)

20. Pepe (CB 88)

19. Gonzalo Higuain (ST 88)

18. Paul Pogba (CM 88)

17. Antoine Griezmann (ST 88)

16. Thiago Silva (CB 89)

15. Luka Modric (CM 89)

14. Sergio Ramos (CB 89)

13. Thibaut Courtois (GK 89)

12. Mesut Ozil (CAM 89)

11. Sergio Aguero (ST 89)

10. David De Gea (GK 90)

9. Robert Lewandowski (ST 90)

8. Jerome Boateng (CB 90)

7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (ST 90)

6. Gareth Bale (RW 90)

5. Manuel Neuer (GK 92)

4. Luis Suarez (ST 92)

3. Neymar (LW 92)

2. Lionel Messi (RW 93)

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (LW 94)

Full details regarding the players and their details can be found on EA's official website.

FIFA 17 is set for release on September 27, and is expecting a demo on September 13. 

Let us know your thoughts on the FIFA 17 player ratings in the comments section below!

For the first time ever in FIFA, live your story on and off the pitch as the Premier League’s next rising star, Alex Hunter. Play on any club in the Premier League, for authentic managers and alongside some of the best players on Earth in "The Journey". Experience realistic football/soccer on September 27th, with new features like direct free kicks, player controlled throw-ins, new corner kicks and new penalty kicks.

Here's a full list of the different editions of FIFA 17 being released and what each contains:

FIFA 17 Standard Edition includes:

\n
• Full game
\n
• Up to 5 FUT Draft Tokens (1 per week over 5 weeks - worth up to $15)
\n
• 8-match FUT loan item of Hazard, Martial, Reus, or Rodriguez
\n
• Custom FUT kits created by designers or FIFA soundtrack artists
\n

FIFA 17 Deluxe Edition includes:

\n
• Full game
\n
• Up to 20 FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs (1 per week over 20 weeks - worth up to $60)
\n
• 3-match FUT Team of the Week loan player (up to 1 player per week over 20 weeks)
\n
• 8-match FUT loan item of Hazard, Martial, Reus, or Rodriguez
\n
• Custom FUT kits created by designers or FIFA soundtrack artists
\n

FIFA 17 Super Deluxe Edition includes:

\n
• Full game
\n
• Up to 40 FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs (2 per week over 20 weeks - worth up to $120)
\n
• 3-match FUT Team of the Week loan player (up to 2 players per week over 20 weeks)
\n
• 8-match FUT loan item of Hazard, Martial, Reus, or Rodriguez
\n
• Custom FUT kits created by designers or FIFA soundtrack artists
\n

September's not the biggest month for game releases but there's still some titles to look forward to, especially for sports game fans. Aside from that there's lots of good changes coming to Destiny in the new DLC and it's a good time to get into popular titles like Elder Scrolls Online and BioShock. If you're back to school this September maybe it's a good thing that there isn't a lot of major releases to distract you!

If you have not yet played The Elder Scrolls Online, an MMORPG from Zenimax Online and Bethesda, or you're thinking about playing again, this fall may be the time. You'll have a lot of content to play through for the cost of the original release. The Gold Edition is already available for pre-order, but will release at most major retailers for PC, PS4, and Xbox One on September 9th.

Includes:

The Elder Scrolls Online

The Gold Edition game packs:

\n
• Imperial City
\n
• Orsinium
\n
• Thieves Guild
\n
• Dark Brotherhood
\n
• A Palomino horse mount
\n
• 500 crowns to spend in the in-game Crown Store for new game accounts
\n

Return to the cities of Rapture and Columbia this September! Coming to PC, Xbox One, and PS4, BioShock: The Collection contains all the single-player content from BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock Infinite, remastered in 1080p. Experience the award-winning franchise again in its' entirety, or perhaps for the very first time, on September 13th.

Includes:

\n
• Remastered in 1080p.
\n
• BioShock main game and all single player DLC.
\n
• BioShock 2 main game and all single player DLC.
\n
• BioShock Infinite main game and all single player DLC.
\n
• Director's Commentary: Imagining BioShock, featuring Ken Levine and Shawn Robertson
\n

Welcome to the new NBA 2K season. The wildly popular NBA game is back with it's most realistic NBA experience ever. In NBA 2K17, you can create teams from real player rosters, compete in tournaments and more. Return to the courts on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One starting on September 20th. 

Since there will be a few different editions of NBA 2K17 releasing here's a straightforward buyer's guide explaining exactly what you get with each edition. Plenty of collectibles for the die hard NBA and Kobe fans out there!

The NBA 2K17 Early Tip-Off Edition (while supplies last) includes:

\n
• Early Access (4 days before standard release)
\n
• All Pre-Order Bonuses
\n

Pre-order Bonuses:

\n
• 5000 Virtual Currency
\n
• MyTEAM Bundle. 3 packs with guaranteed Paul George Free Agent Card and More
\n
• 2 items yet to be announced
\n

The NBA 2K17 Legend Edition includes:

Physical Items:

\n
• Limited-edition Kobe poster
\n
• Black Mamba controller skin
\n
• 2 Panini Kobe trading cards
\n

Digital Content:

\n
• 30,000 Virtual Currency
\n
• MyTEAM Bundle + (including 3 packs with guaranteed Kobe Free Agent card)
\n
• 2K Kobe XI shoe
\n
• Kobe #8 Mitchell & Ness Jersey
\n
• Kobe hoodie 
\n
• And more!
\n

The NBA 2K17 Legend Edition Gold includes

Physical Items:

\n
• Limited-edition Kobe poster
\n
• Black Mamba controller skin
\n
• 2 Panini Kobe trading cards
\n

Digital Content:

\n
• 100,000 Virtual Currency
\n
• MyTEAM Bundle + (including 3 packs with a guaranteed Kobe Bryant card)
\n
• 2K Kobe XI shoe
\n
• Kobe #8 Mitchell & Ness Jersey
\n
• Kobe hoodie
\n
• And more!
\n

 This September you can look forward to kicking some balls, shooting some hoops, and shooting some aliens! Featuring some major sports title releases, a couple re-releases, and a major expansion to a popular FPS.

Destiny: Rise of Iron

Releasing: September 20th 2016

Destiny: Rise of Iron is the next highly anticipated expansion to the Destiny universe coming to PS4 and Xbox One. It features an all new cinematic story campaign set within The Plaguelands, a brand new location on Earth. Under the command of Lord Saladin you'll face a new faction of Fallen Devils, the Splicers, while unravelling the mystery of the Iron Lords. 

Includes:

\n
• New Story Campaign & Quests
\n
• New Armor and Gear
\n
• New Weapons
\n
• New Raid
\n
• Maximum Light Increase
\n
• New Strike
\n
• New Plaguelands Zone & Social Space
\n
• New Crucible Mode & Maps (including Private Matches)
\n
• New Enemy Faction and Bosses
\n

Pre-order Destiny: Rise of Iron and receive the black "Iron" Gjallarhorn, a weapon ornament which will change the look of the Gjallarhorn rocket launcher, which is returning via a quest in the new DLC.

Coming just days after EA announced the new Career Management features, FIFA 17 is set to introduce a brand new Player Growth system that has been based upon fan feedback to help create a new comprehensive method of developing your player. Along with this, FIFA 17 will see customizable kits and crests which intend to bring a new level of personalization to your Pro Club Seasons.

Player Growth

The new Player Growth system has completely changed how your players will develop. The new system focuses heavily on your overall Match Rating to encourage the players to use teamwork and co-operation. This new improvement hopes to create a sense of realism while playing, as in real world football, teamwork is a vital aspect.

Match Rating

Once a match is completed you will receive a Match Rating out of 10. Your player will level up at different speeds depending on which position they play. An example of this would be a striker increasing their Shooting more quickly than Defending. Along with this you will now be able to chart each of the individual attributes to help track the development of your player at the end of each match.

Traits

To add a new depth to the Player Growth system, you'll now be able to select from a wide range of Traits to give to your player. The Traits can be purchased with Skill Points, which are earned in-game, to equip specific Traits to your player such as Physical, Defending, Dribbling, Passing, Shooting, Pace and Goalkeeping. The cost of each Trait will vary in price, so think wisely before you spend as they can only be earned by playing League or Cup matches.

Customization

FIFA 17 Pro Clubs will allow you to customize your teams kits and crests!

Kits

Players can now choose from 24 Kit templates that can be customized with a range of different colour options to match their teams personality.

Badges

Players will now be able to add their own personal touch to their teams kit by selecting a Crest Shape and customizing it with primary color of their choice.

FIFA 17 Pro Clubs will be releasing on PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 27. For full details on the new improvements and features of FIFA 17's Pro Clubs click here.

Let us know your thoughts on these new improvements and features in the comments section below!

EA announced that FIFA 17 is set to receive some brand new Career Mode features that are sure to excite the fans. Available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on 27 September, FIFA 17 will offer brand new features that will allow the player to have even greater control over their club’s season. It will also introduce the option to compete in the J-League and will feature a fully rendered manager avatar to roam the sideline (thanks to the Frostbite engine).

Total Club Management

Total Club Management will give the player new objectives to fulfill based upon your board’s priorities.

The board’s exceptions will be categorized into:

• Domestic Success
• Continental Success
• Brand Exposure
• Financial
• Youth Development

Financial System

FIFA 17’s Career Mode introduces Club Worth, which is a newly rewritten and authentic club financial system. The new system will allow players to see detailed breakdowns of their income from transfers, loans, match day revenue, media and merchandising, along with expenses that range from player and scout wages, stadium maintenance and much more!

Managers

Thanks to the Frostbite engine, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC users will select from 11 High-Res coaches that will be brought to life on the touchline.

New League

Japan J1 will be joining the long list of existing leagues that player's will be able to compete in throughout Career Mode.

Full details on FIFA 17's brand new Career Mode features can be found on EA Sports Official Website.

Are you excited for these brand new Career Mode features? Let us know in the comments section below!

Electronic Arts announced today a new contest to decide between four possible covers for the upcoming FIFA 17 game. From now through July 19th, fans can go to EA's website to vote for their favorite cover.

The possible cover stars are the previously announced ambassadors for the game: James Rodriguez of Real Madrid C.F., Anthony Martial of Manchester United, Eden Hazard of Chelsea FC, and Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund.

Fans can vote once per day and earn extra votes by sharing their choice with the hashtag #FIFA17CoverReward. Fans can also show their support by Tweeting with the athlete’s hashtag (#FIFA17Hazard, #FIFA17James, #FIFA17Martial or #FIFA17Reus). Later in July the winner will be revealed on the cover vote website.

FIFA 17 releases in North America on September 27th and worldwide on September 29th.  Fans of the franchise can pre-order their copies for PS4, PS3, Xbox-One, Xbox 360, and Origin for PC.  Also available for pre-order is a "super deluxe" edition of the game, offering some extra goodies to play with when the game comes out.

Ready to make your case for the most deserving of the four cover stars? Frustrated by the four finalists chosen for the vote? Comment below and let us have it!

FIFA is one of gaming longest running franchises, with new iterations each and every year for well over 20 years now (I still remember playing FIFA '94 as a kid). As a result, it has some of the most loyal and keen fans of any series, many of whom rush out to buy the latest instalment on the day the game is released every year. 

There's no doubt that FIFA is the king of the football game (although last years iteration of Pro Evolution Soccer was incredibly good), but with a new version of a sport that rarely changes that is produced annually, EA Sports don't always hit the mark with their changes and additions. Rarely is the game completely overhauled, but the continual tweaking, while occasionally annoying fans, has produced recent additions to the franchise that have elevated the brand to almost untouchable heights. So, as we're quickly approaching the release of the newest game in the franchise, we take a look at what's new in FIFA 17. 

The Journey

In recent years, FIFA has stayed away from making dramatic new additions or changes to the game. We've seen more stadiums, better kits, improved player likenesses and (marginally) better commentary, but nothing revolutionary has been added for quite a while. That's all set to change this year however, with the introduction of a single-player story mode entitled 'The Journey'. This is the first foray into a story-led mode for the FIFA franchise, but frankly I've been waiting for one ever since the excellent story mode in the EA Fight Night franchise. In The Journey you play Alex Hunter - a young, up and coming English footballer looking to sign for a Premier League team. You can control either the whole team or just Alex, and your personal journey will depend on your performance in the game, as well as the decisions you make both on and off the pitch. We're a little light on details at this stage (such as how long The Journey will last, or how the story arc will play out), but it's an interesting addition to a game that will also include the more traditional Career mode found in previous FIFA games. 

New Graphics Engine

FIFA 17 will run on the Frostbite engine for the first time - the same engine that powers Battlefield 4 and Star Wars: Battlefront. According to Lead Gameplay Producer Aaron McHardy the team have been working towards moving FIFA onto the Frostbite engine for the last two years, and by all accounts the move will result in better lighting, more realistic gameplay and greatly improved player models and likenesses. Considering FIFA didn't exactly looked bad or unrealistic in the 2015/16 version, I'm excited to see the impact of the new engine. 

Improved Ball Control and Additional Gameplay Features

The new graphics engine has allowed the FIFA development team to add some major upgrades to the gameplay system in FIFA 17, making it a significant improvement on last year's instalment. The new 'pushback' technology results in more realistic (and less frustrating) first touches and a new physical approach to the game as a whole. Players can now jostle and fight for position, as well as fighting for control in the air. As well as improvements to control and touch, the game is a major upgrade in terms of shielding (including an innovative air-shielding system) and footwork, with touches and movement now being far more intuitive and looking considerably more realistic. 

More Intelligent AI

The AI (artificial intelligence) system has also be revamped with the addition of the Active Intelligence System. This results in much better player movement, understanding and use of space, and improved player runs off the ball. 

Defending has never been easy in FIFA games - especially for beginners - but it can still be incredibly frustrating coming up against a solid and determined defence. FIFA 17 adds a lot more options and variety into the mix when it comes to breaking down stubborn defences, making each game feel different from the last and opening up the number of potential approaches you can take to putting the ball in the back of the net. 

FIFA 17 will be released on Xbox One, PS4 and PC in September 2016. 

Electronic Arts has announced FIFA 17. There isn't much detailed information about the new game; however, a newly released trailer emphasizes the change from the Ignite engine to Frostbite engine, which is famous for its usage in Battlefield series.

The tagline of the trailer...

"People say football never changes. We see it differently"

...illustrates this point. The trailer features James Rodriquez of Real Madrid, Anthony Martial of Manchester United, Eden Hazard of Chelsea, and Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund. After that, it shows few scenes that were created with Frostbite engine.

David Rutter, Executive Producer of EA Vancouver, said:

“Frostbite unlocks a whole new world of possibilities for the FIFA franchise and its fans. We have never been as excited as we are today about the future of football and the experiences we are going to deliver in FIFA 17."

FIFA 17 will be released on PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC on September 27th for North America and September 29 for other regions. Members of EA Access or Origin Access will be able to play it a little earlier.