It's that time of year when EA Sports releases their football video game simulation but it's not called 'FIFA' this time around.
Due to the relationship ending between the developer and football's governing body, football's leading video game has a new name - FC 24.
Does it stack up with previous versions of 'FIFA'?
The Sporting News explains what you need to know.
MORE: Fresh technology, women’s football at the heart of EA Sports' new FC 24 game
What are the differences between FC 24 and FIFA 23?
The good news is that there is no significant drawbacks to FC 24 losing the FIFA licensing.
In fact, it's only really the name FIFA that has been lost from the game, with significant competitions and players still remaining licensed in the game.
This includes the Champions League, Europa League, Premier League, Serie A and La Liga etc.
While the superstar players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland are all playable as usual.
However, any World Cup modes or mention won't exist in the franchise, but this is like any non-World Cup year with the game.
And FIFA Ultimate Team will now simply be called Ultimate Team.
What's new in FC 24?
MORE: Is EA Sports' FC 24 cross-platform? How to buy for Playstation, Xbox & other consoles
Having lost the licence of FIFA, EA Sports have gone all out to ensure FC 24 is better than its previous football simulations with improved graphics, added features and capabilities.
Addition of Hypermotion V
In previous FIFA's, EA Sports brought in football players to their studios to motion capture their movements in order to produce life-like action when the game is played.
But in FC 24, the developers have implemented data from more than 180 real-life football matches in order to recreate how players move and feel in the game.
This means that many specific players feel exactly as they do in real-life.
Play-styles
While all star players might have felt similar in the past, EA Sports have used their Hypermotion to capture the individual traits and skills to set players apart from each other.
Manchester City superstar Haaland has a hulking presence as he moves rapidly with his physical frame.
Arsenal flyer Bukayo Saka is light on his fight with rapid acceleration and nimble dribbling abilities.
Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes is able to control games with his creative flair, but also features his terrier-like work-rate.
The nuanced abilities of some of football's biggest stars makes you feel like you are actually using them in real life.
Women's football
With the rise of women's football and the success of the recent Women's World Cup, EA Sports have expanded their offering of female teams and players across the game.
Women stars will now be available in Ultimate Team alongside their male counterparts and will feature in packs and the transfer market.
Over 100 new female faces have been added to the game meaning the best women's stars will now be life-like in appearance and abilities.
Ultimate team additions
In previous Ultimate Team versions, player cards haven't been able to be improved beyond their initial rating - meaning users had to buy or acquire packs to get better rated cards.
In FC 24, a player's overall rating can be improved by completing certain objectives and using the card over time.
The addition of women players means you can now have females alongside men in your Ultimate Team squad, meaning Sam Kerr can play in a dream front-two partnership with Haaland.
What's FC 24's gameplay like?
MORE: EA Sports FC 24 gameplay: What new features will be in the game?
The good news is that the game feels like a FIFA football game - which have been excellent football simulations over the years.
While it doesn't feel a whole lot different than previous FIFA's, it's difficult for EA to improve on a game feel that has always been best of its genre by an absolute mile.
As always, the game has a slower, simulation feel when it's first released - with build up and angles prioritised over a fast-play arcade style.
And it's likely that gradually the pace will be quickened to cater the needs of casual players over the game's life cycle.
But if you want to play a football game that is close as possible to the real thing, FC 24 currently has no rival.
Without feeling hugely different to how FIFA played in the past, there is no doubt there is a slight improvement to the game engine and one that will whet the appetite of football simulation fans.
Why you should buy FC 24
The search for an absolute perfect football sim is still ongoing and won't exist with the current technology of video games.
But FC 24 is as close as possible to the real thing and represents improvement and advancement on previous FIFA versions.
There is a plethora of game modes to keep you satisfied and significant cross-play capabilities meaning you can play against or with friends using the same generation of platform.
You can play simple head-to matches, engage in seasons matches online either individually or in co-op mode with a friend, dive into Ultimate Team either individually or co-op and then there is the much-vaunted single player modes of career and clubs.
There is also the arcade style Volta Football which allows a user to play street football and express their creativity.
The solid gameplay and range of modes means FC 24 has a variety of options for the user that will allow the game a long lifespan once again.
For football lovers, there is only one simulation for you to buy and it's time to shell out the money for it.
How to buy FC 24 - Standard and Ultimate editions
You can pre-order FC 24 direct from EA Sports by using the following links.
Order links
FC 24 is also available to buy at most department stores that sell video games. Check your local.
EA Sports FC 24 price in different regions
| Edition | US price | UK price | Australia price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $69.99 | £69.99 | $109.95 |
| Ultimate | $99.99 | £99.99 | $149.95 |
EA Sports FC 24 Standard vs. Ultimate Editions
The features of each edition of FC 24 are listed below.
| Ultimate edition | Standard edition |
| Base game | Base game |
| Dual entitlement | Dual entitlement |
| Ultimate Team’s cover star loan player item for 10 Ultimate Team matches | Ultimate Team’s cover star loan player item for 10 Ultimate Team matches |
| Two Ambassador loan player pick items for five Ultimate Team matches | Two Ambassador loan player pick items for five Ultimate Team matches |
| One Clubs unlocked playstyles slot | One Clubs unlocked playstyles slot |
| Additional Player Career personality points | Additional Player Career personality points |
| One Manager Career five-star coach available for hire | One Manager Career five-star coach available for hire |
| Up to seven days of early access | |
| 4,600 FC Points in Ultimate Team | |
| Access to Nike’s Ultimate Team campaign | |
| TOTW 1 Ultimate Team player item | |
| Nike Ultimate Team loan player item for 24 Ultimate Team matches and Nike x EA Sports FC kit | |
| Untradeable UCL/UWCL Hero (limited offer for those who pre-order by Aug. 22) |
