FIFA '20 Articles RSS Feed | GameSkinny.com FIFA '20 RSS Feed on GameSkinny.com https://www.gameskinny.com/ en Launch Media Network EA Investor Call Hints at Smart Delivery for PS5, Series X Games https://www.gameskinny.com/rwdu7/ea-investor-call-hints-at-smart-delivery-for-ps5-series-x-games https://www.gameskinny.com/rwdu7/ea-investor-call-hints-at-smart-delivery-for-ps5-series-x-games Wed, 06 May 2020 15:45:19 -0400 Josh Broadwell

The latest EA investor relations call was held recently. Among other things, the publisher announced it plans on offering a system similar to Xbox Smart Delivery, where current-gen games are upgraded for free to their next-gen PS5 and Series X counterparts.

These remarks come from EA Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Blake Jorgensen, buried roughly near the end of the earnings report. Jorgensen said:

...this year the phasing [budget forecast] includes the effect of revenue recognition from the games we are launching for the current generation of consoles that can also be upgraded for free for the next generation.

How EA will implement this alleged upgrade remains to be seen, especially since Sony specifically hasn't been 100% clear on how PlayStation 5's backwards compatibility will work.

As EA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Wilson said, EA plans on releasing 14 new titles over the course of this fiscal year. These include games in the NHL, Madden, and FIFA franchises. No surprises there. But there's another, unannounced sports title EA plans to release as well.

EA also plans on having its sports arm lead the company into next-gen, which basically means look forward to next-gen sports games from EA within the first year of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X launching.

On top of that, Wilson said EA's indie partners have a number of games in store. There are four other games in the works for console and PC from EA, too, including Command and Conquer. Wilson also mentioned two mobile titles. 

You can check out a PDF of the earnings call transcript from EA's website if you're interested. Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more next-gen console news as it develops, including tomorrow's first look at Xbox Series X gameplay as part of the Summer Game Fest.

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FIFA 20 Review: Volta Don't Jolt But Gameplay Glimmers https://www.gameskinny.com/8j2yd/fifa-20-review-volta-dont-jolt-but-gameplay-glimmers https://www.gameskinny.com/8j2yd/fifa-20-review-volta-dont-jolt-but-gameplay-glimmers Tue, 24 Sep 2019 13:16:27 -0400 RobertPIngram

When it comes to soccer games, FIFA is king.

While Pro Evolution Soccer has long been talked up as a contender for the moniker of top soccer simulation, the days of anything approaching true competition in the field have come and gone.

FIFA is in charge, and the good news for fans of the sport is that EA does not seem content to rest on their laurels when it comes to the pitch. While not every new implementation in FIFA 20 lands correctly, EA's commitment to keeping things fresh is more than evident.

If It Ain't Broke Now...

The heart of any sports simulation is its ability to accurately represent real gameplay. The best set decoration and suite of specialty modes are all for nothing if things don't work after the whistle blows.

To that end, a game series like FIFA presents developers with a difficult challenge. When existing standards are high, every change carries more expectation — and has a greater chance of failing. 

While it's hard to truly grasp what does and doesn't work with the engine before it's been through millions of real-world simulations, the early signs are that EA did some fine work 20.

The most notable changes focus on how players behave without the ball, both offensively and defensively.

On defense, EA set out to put eradicate a dastardly defensive tactic: letting the computer handle certain parts of play. In prior years, it was often easier for some to let the AI handle tackling and regaining possession. 

Or so I've heard.

In FIFA 20, this tactic has been nerfed by an increased emphasis on manual defending and properly-timed tackles. This puts the onus back on the actual humans playing the game and requires they step up and make more plays than in some recent iterations of the game.

Not all the changes make for less competent computer teammates and the need to go it alone, however. On the other side of the ball, your teammates have never felt more capable.

FIFA 20 has dialed back its speed, and the slower play feels more realistic, bringing effective changes to the offensive AI. Teammates are now more capable of reading the game and dropping into space while waiting for the right moment to run through a gap and latch onto a pass.

Overall, the changes to the engine seem to be significantly better by all early indications. After a year in which many fans felt the series took a step back, FIFA 20 feels like a leap forward to its best version.

FUT Remains King

The online fantasy team builder FIFA Ultimate Team has been the game's showpiece mode for years, and fans of the mode will have little reason for complaints this year (sans the ever-present loot boxes that have plagued sports games ad infinitum).

If you're new to FIFA, FUT is an online mode where players build teams from real-life leagues. Players are represented as cards, gained by buying or earning packs, or from direct purchases on the game's market.

Teams gain bonuses for having high chemistry, earned by placing players from the same nation, league, or team near each other on the pitch, as well as placing players in their natural positions. The higher your chemistry, the more bonuses it brings to your team's overall performance.

In FIFA 20, there are many ways to play online, from one-off matches to seasons, as well as offline options. With Squad Battles, you can take on squads from real, player-built squads under AI control, which gives you a taste of PvP matchups without having to face off with a stranger.

The largest drawback remains the mode's inherent pay to win structure, with the game never shying away from the fact that it encourages you to invest in more packs with real-world money.

The good news is there is nothing forcing your hand, and the game seems to be somewhat more generous with pack access this time around.

In addition to a starter boost of 1,000 coins per game for five games, I received bonus packs for having played FUT on FIFA 19. While my starting team was far from a world-beater, just the ability to jump in and take control of competent players instead of soldiering on with a bunch of League Two strugglers made the mode significantly more inviting. 

At the end of the day, FUT is largely more of the same, though when a mode is already an international juggernaut, there's not much need room for drastic change.

Volta Fails to Jolt the System

Perhaps the most indicting criticism I can make for Volta is, upon finding it unenjoyable, I very much wanted to make a Volta is Revolting pun for this section heading. But even that wasn't quite true.

A bad game mode is certainly not a positive, but it at least shows an effort to really push things where they simply failed.

In almost every way, I found Volta to be something worse than bad: I found it boring.

The appeal of streetballers is their propensity for flashy skills and tricks, which see them doing things with the ball you never would have imagined possible. The game is all about crowd-pleasing excitement.

Volta, on the other hand, usually just feels like smaller FIFA.

On a cosmetic level, the game dials up the showmanship with each touch, but all too often, it's more window dressing than real change. Before long, I discovered the best way to score is to rely on the basics. Pass it around, draw opponents out, and hit a backdoor ball to a forward to tuck home.

Sure, there are fewer players to draw, and the goal is a tiny thing with no keeper, but it doesn't change that the most success I had in Volta came from using tried and true tactics from the traditional mode.

While I like the idea of a more realistic approach to streetball than prior arcade-style games, I came away feeling like EA took the approach too far. Volta doesn't do enough to make the game feel unique or worth my time.

And its story mode isn't much better. 

While not all fans loved The Journey, sacrificing it for Volta's story mode was a clear net-loss, if for no other reason than it is utterly dreadful. The characters are poorly realized, and the plot fails to stand out in the slightest.

Pros:
  • Changes to the gameplay engine have created the most realistic and enjoyable soccer game ever
  • FIFA Ultimate Team is an engrossing way to play, and the joy of slotting a new star into your lineup and taking him to the pitch for the first time is hard to beat
  • Be a Pro and Be a Manager campaign modes remain the same enjoyable fun for anyone looking to take their favorite team to the title
Cons:
  • Volta is an uninspiring letdown from a mode which showed so much promise at launch
  • Loot boxes will see you squared up with overpowered opposition from time to time in online play
  • The same criticisms from the FIFA 19 Women's World Cup add-on remain, with an inability to actually build a full 24-team tournament

The question of whether or not FIFA 20 deserves a spot in your collection ultimately comes down to the same qualifiers most sports game run into.

If you're new to the series or haven't updated in several years, then it is certainly worth your money. Similarly, if you're happy seeing your annual purchase as a subscription fee to take part in online play, there's nothing here to hinder your fun.

If you purchased FIFA 19 for its offline modes, however, it's a trickier call. Even if the gameplay is tighter this year, you're safe to wait until 21, which will hopefully have a better, stronger Volta mode. 

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FIFA 20 Demo: Reactions to the Latest Generation are Mixed https://www.gameskinny.com/tn991/fifa-20-demo-reactions-to-the-latest-generation-are-mixed https://www.gameskinny.com/tn991/fifa-20-demo-reactions-to-the-latest-generation-are-mixed Sat, 14 Sep 2019 09:00:01 -0400 RobertPIngram

With the summer transfer deadline in the rearview mirror and club rosters finalized, that means that the dawn of a new year of FIFA is just around the corner.

While fans will still have to wait until September 24 to get their hands on the full version of FIFA 20, the demo is available early, and it gives players just a small taste of what's to come this year. While the standard demo fare rears its head, like a limited assortment of teams to actually play as, the big news is the ability to try the new street soccer VOLTA mode.

After spending some time with the demo, the news is mixed for fans of the series.

Full Side Play Stars

Although VOLTA might have stolen headlines since the announcement of the new feature, the core of any FIFA game will always be its ability to create a realistic and fun simulation when it comes to full-side of world-class soccer, and FIFA 20 lives up to the series' lofty standards. 

FIFA has long been the standard-bearer for EA's various sports simulations, and while each new iteration has been loaded with buzz words and big talk, it's fair to say there has generally been an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach to the game's mechanics.

With FIFA 20, that is still the clear operating premise. While the game doesn't feel exactly like its predecessor, and elite-level players may remain upset about the increased variance in chained skill maneuvers, if you've played a recent edition of FIFA, you'll likely find that you're right back in the swing of things in short order.

If you're new to the series or haven't played in a few years, don't worry about your skills. The game's default trainer overlay provides visual cues for suggested actions and the button or stick combinations to perform them, so you can hit the ground running.

While the new features aren't revolutionary, they're not invisible either, and at the end of the day, what you're left with is another very strong performance from the FIFA team.

VOLTA Disappoints... For Now

Before getting into my hands-on experience with the new mode, it's important to remember that a limited demo with only one-offs is far from the full picture of a game. With that large caveat out there, however, the early look is a big let down.

While the early talk of the new mode was appealing, with the game taking a realistic approach to small-sided games, what's actually delivered so far doesn't quite live up to expectations. 

The game leans into the flair and style of street ball, with standard passes and lobs occasionally being delivered in show-stopping, over-the-top manners, but the mode lacks the fluidity you'd hope for with a proper streetball option. Although highly skilled players may have more luck using flair and style to their advantage, new payers may find themselves playing the same game only cramped, ironically finding that the game, in turn, feels more bogged down than a standard match.

That's not to say there isn't promise in the mode, though. Just by the very nature of changing the dynamics of the game it does provide a fun alternative to standard play. Three-a-side on a tiny pitch is a vastly different experience, as is trying to tuck the ball into the game's small, keeper-less goals.

The first time my player rocketed a shot off a side wall then hammered in her own rebound for a self-pass goal was genuinely exhilarating, and the ability to have coed teams may seem small, but only if you've never been unable to squad up with your friends because your Pro is the wrong gender.

There are sprouts of how VOLTA may yet deliver on the promise of its first press release. Unless more is done to make the mode run smoother and the full options expand the world of VOLTA enough, however, it will remain a fun occasional diversion more than an expansive mode worth pouring hours into.

Final Whistle

As far as demos go, this is a promising showing from EA. There's every reason to believe that the standard favorites, from pro campaigns to FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT), will be as great as ever.

Although VOLTA failed to blow the doors off in demo form, it may well shine once players have access to the full array of options. If you're considering picking up FIFA 20, put on your game face and give the demo a spin.

While you wait for the game to arrive, be sure to check out our article on everything we know about the game, which includes everything from flair and career mode to pre-order information, trailers, and gameplay. 

FIFA 20 is set to release on September 27 for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It will be included in Origin Access and EA Access.  

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FIFA 20: Everything We Know — Release Date, Gameplay, Cover Athlete, and More https://www.gameskinny.com/vl905/fifa-20-everything-we-know-release-date-gameplay-cover-athlete-and-more https://www.gameskinny.com/vl905/fifa-20-everything-we-know-release-date-gameplay-cover-athlete-and-more Tue, 13 Aug 2019 13:56:32 -0400 RobertPIngram

FIFA 20 is set to launch for everyone on September 27, with three days of early access for those who buy the Champion or Ultimate editions of the popular soccer sim.

With the Premier League having kicked off this weekend and the other major leagues set to shortly follow suit, excitement is high and fans can't wait to get their hands on the updated rosters to try out their club's newest signings.

If you're counting down the days until FIFA 20 debuts, here's everything we know — and everything you need to know — about EA's next offering, including gameplay, ultimate team, and more.

VOLTA Football Will Change the Game

The biggest criticism that sports series receive is that they don't often need yearly editions. The problem of paying full price for roster updates and minor tweaks every year culminated in a class-action settlement over the Madden series, which added no fire underneath developers to add real value from year to year.

The best way to do that is to add something which changes the players' experience drastically, and that's what VOLTA aims to do.

Played on a smaller pitch with walls, and teams of just three to five players, the developers promise the mode will offer a whole new way to play FIFA.

It's Street Football, Not FIFA Street 20

EA has experimented with soccer outside of the standard 11-on-11 simulation of FIFA with FIFA Street, but fans should not expect a redux of the shuttered franchise in VOLTA.

While FIFA Street was an arcade-style game in the same mold as NFL Blitz, VOLTA aims to instead continue its real-world simulation experience, just one different than full-side matches on professional pitches. Players will still behave realistically and respond to the game's standard physics engine.

Flair is The Name of the Game

Where the mode sets itself apart, beyond the changes in numbers and dimensions, is the focus on skilled and showy maneuvers. Just like real streetball artists, players in VOLTA can perform eye-catching moves which don't just beat opponents but also embarrass them.

In order to develop these talents, players progress with a system ripped from the RPG world: skill trees.

Co-ed Play is Possible

While female representation has remained an area where FIFA has made strides but also stumbled, VOLTA finally offers fans the opportunity to play games with men and women at the same time.

As you build your squad of players, you can mix and match from male and female performers.

Online Co-Op is Not

The announcement of VOLTA was widely met with excitement; however, one concern was not being able to launch a full squad of created pros to take on opponents as a unit. While couch co-op is available, as yet, there is no ability to fill your squad with your online friends.

The good news is you will still have the option to take the game online in seasons mode, earning promotions and relegations as you go.

Career Mode Borrows Some Familiar Features

For offline play, Career Mode is still king, and so it's no surprise to see EA pouring resources into the mode, especially with the loss of The Journey. There's a lot to like about the announced changes so far.

Football Manager Mode

While FIFA remains the clear leader of its field, even if Pro Evolution Soccer provides a stiffer test than some of the other major sports' also-rans, that doesn't mean it's the only game in town for fans of the sport.

For players less interested in the on-field side of the sport and more interested in the men and women behind the scenes who make it happen, Football Manager is the undisputed top dog, and EA has taken a few pages out of Sports Interactive's playbook.

Press conferences will play a bigger role in FIFA 20, as will text-based conversations between players and managers. The decisions made by gamers while carrying out these conversations can lead to shifts in morale and future performances on the pitch. A happy squad is more likely to perform well, and morale will also be altered by playing time, club results, and personal form.

The generation and development of players have also been changed in an effort to more accurately represent reality.

This means an increased range in the amount a young player's height and weight can develop, as well as more accurate racial distributions when regarding generated players. Development of all players will also take on a dynamic effect, with great seasons increasing a player's potential for the next year, allowing for large leaps by young players or helping to hold off decline for another year with veterans. 

Women on the Sidelines

While VOLTA may be the only mode which allows women onto the pitch alongside men, there is now nothing stopping gamers from playing as a female manager pacing the sidelines. It's a simple tweak, but one which allows everyone to see themselves represented on screen.

This ability for anyone to immerse themselves is further bolstered by the advanced customization options for your manager's appearance. Not only does the game let you choose your personal style, ranging from the business-appropriate look of a CEO to the more relaxed approach of a Newsies cap and khakis, but you can fine-tune your facial features to find just the right look to create the manager you want to see on screen.

Career Mode Odds and Ends

Here are a few leftover tidbits worth mentioning: 

  • Increased initial wages add flexibility to squad building
  • Defender costs are on the rise, reflecting a similar shift in the real world
  • Opposing AIs will make better choices with their lineups, ensuring strong lineups for big fixtures
  • The fixture algorithm has been tweaked to avoid congestion 

Madrid Represent on the Cover, for Real

Few peripheral notes in gaming draw more hype than who will get to grace the covers of annual sports sims. The good news for the world's best international footballers is that landing a spot on the cover of FIFA doesn't carry the same stigma of a cursed season that American football players face when they end up as the face of Madden.

With FIFA 20, three men get the honor of resting on your game shelf, with your choice of edition choosing cover athlete.

Standard Edition Cover Athlete: Eden Hazard

When Chelsea sold Eden Hazard to Real Madrid in a summer where they were forbidden to buy a replacement, many viewed it as a poor omen for their upcoming campaign. For Real Madrid, however, it has proved to be even more of a boost than expected as they gain not only one of the world's elite attacking forces, but also some bonus representation on the cover of the Standard Edition of FIFA 20

  • Get the Standard Edition 
    • Release date: September 27
    • Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
    • Price w/ EA and Origin Access: $53.99
    • Price w/o EA and Origin Access: $59.99
    • Pre-order bonuses:
      • Up to 3 FIFA 20 Ultimate Team Rare Gold Packs
        (1 Per Week For 3 Weeks)
      • Choose one of five mid-version ICON Items for 5 FUT matches
      • Special Edition FUT Kits
Champions Edition Cover Athlete: Virgil Van Dijk

For fans willing to splash a little extra cash on some perks at launch, including a few days of early access and extra gold packs in the game's opening weeks, there is the Champions Edition fronted by Virgil Van Dijk.

While his signing was criticized as overpaying for an unproven talent in January 2018, doubters were proven wrong when he led Liverpool to the third-highest points total in Premier League history and a Champions League title this past season. 

  • Get the Champions Edition
    • Release date: September 24
    • Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
    • Price w/ EA and Origin Access: $71.99
    • Price w/o EA and Origin Access: $79.99
    • Pre-order bonuses: 
      • 3 Days Early Access (Play from September 24th)
      • Up To 12 FIFA 20 Ultimate Team Rare Gold Packs
        (1 Per Week For 12 Weeks)
      • Choose one of five mid-version ICON Items for 5 FUT matches
      • Special Edition FUT Kits
Ultimate Edition Cover Athlete: Zinedine Zidane

The Ultimate Edition offers even more free packs and a legendary frontman in the form of Galácticos-OG and current Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane.

  • Get the Champions Edition
    • Release date: September 24
    • Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
    • Price w/ EA and Origin Access: $89.99
    • Price w/o EA and Origin Access: $99.99
    • Pre-order bonuses
      • 3 Days Early Access (Play From September 24th)
      • Up To 24 Rare Gold Packs (2 Per Week For 12 Weeks)
      • Loan Icon Player Pick: Choose 1 of 5 Loan Icon Items
        (Mid Version) for 5 FUT Matches
      • Special Edition FUT Kits

FIFA 20 Demo

The FIFA 20 demo is out right now. It became available on Tuesday, September 10, 2019. Here's what you need to know. 

It is currently available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. There is not a Nintendo Switch demo of the game, although the full game is releasing on that platform. 

How to Download the Demo on PC
  • Go to the Origin Store on PC
  • Click "Try it Now"
  • Click "Add Game to Library"
  • The demo will begin to download
How to Download the Demo on PS4
  • Go to the PlayStation Store
  • Go to the Games tab
  • Got to the Demos section
  • Find the FIFA 20 demo 
  • Click download
  • It is also on the "Hot Now" section on the main screen
How to Download on Xbox One

Gameplay Updates Aim for a Realistic Feel

While it's easy to be skeptical about changes to the in-game experience of sports games from year to year, if EA is to be believed, there is a lot going on that's new in this year's edition. 

Offensive Changes

Scoring goals is where the fun is, so let's start with looking at what's been done to change how you'll do that.

The primary focus has clearly shifted to creating a more-realistic experience going forward. For starters, the situational value of shots will be factored in more strongly.

This means that players put through cleanly will see a wider margin for error when slotting the ball home, while accurately timing your shot is not all you need to do to turn your back-to-goal volley into a high-value opportunity.

Speaking of timed shots, the feature will remain  to the joy of some and ire of others  but the timing will become stricter. That means when you gamble on a timed shot, the chances of instead blasting the ball away have gone up. 

A new feature allows for a set-up touch, rolling the ball forward before firing off a pass or shot with a brief run-up. This is a mixed bag, offering improved options when successful, but requiring more time and exposing you to being dispossessed.  

The passing game will also see changes, with the two most notable on opposing ends of the power scale. When passing with pace, the option to drive a pass on a pass-and-go opens up new runs to build off of. When finesse is your preference, small dinked passes preferred by players like hold-up striker Olivier Giroud are now a manual option for when you want just a little air on the ball to clear a defender, but it's not so much it troubles the receiving player.

Defensive Changes

A popular defensive tactic for less-skilled players is to not get in the way, allowing your AI teammates to make sound choices and win the ball back as frequently as possible. With FIFA 20, this tactic may be on the way out.

A new tackling engine has been developed which allows for more dynamic defensive interceptions. This not only means more successful challenges but also smarter ones, with players making the effort to deflect the ball away from danger and toward a teammate if possible.

This is only effective in manual challenges, though, so it's on players to learn how to time their own challenges. AI Teammates will also be less urgent with jumping in to offer support, opting instead to retain their shape more often than not.

The effects of set-pieces are often a tug-of-war from year to year, with them being deemed overpowered one year, only to be excessively nerfed the next. With crossed set pieces proving very dangerous again in FIFA 19, a balance was inevitable, and it is coming in the form of improved tactical AI when choosing marks.

EA promises it will now be less likely to see your crafty number-10 marking the opposing team's towering center half, or your air-dominant defender standing around in space marking nobody. 

Goalkeepers have some good and bad news to deal with as well. While improved manual ball claiming will make it easier to cut out dangerous crosses, the extent to which you can manually adjust your keeper prior to shots has been reduced to just a couple of steps, and set to lock in at the same time the shooter's direction does.

Dead Ball Changes

The system for firing shots on goal on dangerous dead ball situations has received a fairly large overhaul, much to the shooter's advantage. A targeting reticle now makes it very clear to the shooter where they are lining up their shot, while also allowing for the ability to hit the ball for power but still keep it low to the ground. It's all for when you want to blast a shot under the wall.

Control over the ball's movement is increased as well, with both the spin you put on using your right stick and the angle of approach you opt for determining how much the ball moves in the air.

One-on-One Battles at the Forefront

Several of EA's early press releases have focused on the increased importance of players going head-to-head. From tweaks to the way aerial duels go off to the decreased effectiveness of defensive support, it's clear that learning to win these direct battles will be key to top-level play.

Off ball development has been slowed down, with players taking more time to assess the game situation and look for opportunities to act. This means that the player in possession may need to do more while they wait for the correct run from a teammate.

To get this right, changes have been made to make the existing jockeying system more agile and responsive.

Introducing Error

One area which was met with controversy when announced was the addition of error into chained skill moves. While running a series of skills was a popular option for skilled players, it now comes with a great deal of risk.

Every time you chain a skill move beyond your second move, there is a chance of error causing your player to be dispossessed. The extent of this penalty will increase exponentially with each chained move, so long runs will become much riskier. This is further enhanced if the moves being chained are already high-skill moves.

Although some fans who did not enjoy running into opponents who they felt were spamming fancy dribbles will relish the change, top players who relied on their hard-earned skills to break down opponents are up in arms over the injection of random chance into their offensive endeavors.

The Old Stand-Bys

While EA is promising lots of changes, players can still count on much of what they've come to expect from FIFA. That means that one-offs are easy to access, and the game will be loaded with all the top leagues and licenses, including exclusive rights to the Premier League, Champions League and Europa League.

Online options will still include both the club-based Seasons mode and fantasy-inspired FIFA Ultimate Team, where players build their squads from packs of players throughout the world.

There are likely to be more announcements in the weeks to come as the launch date nears, so stay tuned to GameSkinny for everything you need to know about FIFA 20.

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FIFA 20 Gets Release Date, Info on FIFA Volta Mode, New Details https://www.gameskinny.com/btepe/fifa-20-gets-release-date-info-on-fifa-volta-mode-new-details https://www.gameskinny.com/btepe/fifa-20-gets-release-date-info-on-fifa-volta-mode-new-details Sat, 08 Jun 2019 14:56:16 -0400 Josh Broadwell

EA's Play presentation dove into some technical and specific details about the upcoming FIFA 20.

Most importantly, it gave a release date: September 27. EA Early Access members get a hands-on with the game starting September 19, though

EA Play's FIFA 20 coverage kicked off with a repeat of the recent Fifa Volta trailer. Volta is all about playing in the streets. It takes the FIFA action and pretty much puts it wherever a team can kick a ball around and set up a net.

Footballer Chelcee Grimes gave an overview of Volta football and the culture surrounding it. The team wanted to bring in an authentic experience for the game and include something that spoke to the actual people playing both FIFA and football/soccer in general.

As such, the mode will strive to represent a sampling of the many different locations Volta will introduce and the diversity of players — and playstyles — who play Volta football, including letting players design their clothes, style, and gender. The goal is showing off the skills and flair of real players who don't have to be in an official stadium.

The presentation shifted to the rest of the game, with the production team leader discussing how important community feedback was in creating FIFA '20. This feedback ranged from the gameplay style in general to things like shot accuracy and force.

Football Intelligence is one of the game's key features and it covers three main areas: off the ball, on the ball, and the ball

Off the ball's emphasis is giving players more time and space. It's meant to create more one-on-one scenarios and grants more time to the dribbler; in other words, it helps improve offense.

On the ball gives players new attacking and defending tools, which got a lot of attention.

Football Intelligence with "on the ball" is also aiming to create a more authentic look and feel for the game, including how teammates are spread out and interact with the player.

For the players themselves, the team focused on four main topics:

Composed finishing is improving the kicks in one-on-ones by fine-tuning shooting and, again, creating a more authentic experience.

Strafe dribbling will help lure opponents in and gives players more control over the dribbling ball.

Control tackling is a defensive move to help improve tackling and get the ball back to the player more often.

Penalty kicks and free kicks are getting an overhaul as well. The mechanics are simpler and more accessible, though will retain depth. Players get full control over the ball spin to help improve the trajectory.

The ball itself is focused on trying to recreate the feel of the ball and make it, too, seem more authentic — improving the bounces, kicks, and overall reaction to how the ball reacts to the player.

The team said there are plenty of additional features in FIFA 20 that have yet to be discussed, so this was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

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