In autumn 2016, we expect the new football simulation from EA Sports, which will be named FIFA 17. We list 10 aspects in which FIFA 17 should improve compared to its predecessor FIFA 16.
What can we expect in FIFA 17? What innovations does the football simulation bring?
We will likely only get official answers to these questions at E3 in June. Until then, we are allowed to make guesses, speculations, and wishes. The CEO of EA, Andrew Wilson, has already heated expectations by revealing: FIFA 17 will make a significant leap in personalization, gameplay depth, and competitive aspects. How they will implement this concretely is still unknown.
These are the things we wish for in FIFA 17
If one wants to create a list of all the things that should improve in the FIFA series and what the community wishes for, it is definitely a hopeless endeavor: The suggestions from fans are so diverse that one would come up with a hundred different things.
Therefore, we limit the following list to 10 things that we expect from FIFA 17. For this, we not only draw on our own opinions but also on contributions from global internet forums and comments from our own community.
Top priority: Gameplay!
All the great features and modes that EA Sports comes up with are secondary if the gameplay is not solid. Because as Adi Preißler once stated: “The critical aspect is on the field.”
Not only must the control over players and game events feel good, but the artificial intelligence should also behave truly “intelligently.” EA advertises every year that the defense lines, movement paths, and positional play – that everything is optimized. In practice, however, fans still complain about bizarre and wildly erratic behavior of the computer players.
While significant improvements have already been made to gameplay in recent years, coarse blunders from the AI in FIFA 16 repeatedly create moments that raise players’ pulse and send controllers flying through the air. EA Sports should continue to minimize this issue in FIFA 17. The outcome of games should depend less on the game itself and more on the players’ performances.
Another tedious topic: The goalkeepers. While the goalkeeper in FIFA 15 was unanimously a disaster, he became significantly more reliable in FIFA 16 – but in too many scenes, he makes devastating mistakes. We have already dealt extensively with bizarre goalkeeper fails in FIFA 16 here.
Additionally, the referee sometimes officiates the events in a rather adventurous manner. There is hardly a game in which players do not complain at least once about the referee, whether for fouls or offside decisions. Our reader Warlock notes, for example, that the referee often calls offside too early, despite him having long stopped running and can’t even reach the ball. We all know such scenes.
In short (as I realize that I need to self-restrain): Most fans will surely welcome it if the events on the field become even more realistic. FIFA 16 is by no means all bad – many fans, myself included, still play it frequently and enjoyably – but there is still plenty of room for improvement.
The “Ultimate Team” mode should focus more on playing
We probably shouldn’t worry about the “Ultimate Team” mode. According to EA, this is the most popular mode in the game and brings in a lot of money for the company. We can expect that this will be refreshed in FIFA 17, will receive a few new features, and will enchant fans once again.
One thing that does need changing here: Playing matches should become more rewarding. To buy objects on the transfer market and open packs, a lot of coins are needed. However, it takes a long time to “earn” a decent team, as the rewards after a game tend to be rather meager.
It’s difficult to make significant strides this way, as players also need to be supplied with consumables like contracts.
Then some fans dig into their wallets and invest a few euros via microtransactions to advance faster. Mega stars like Ronaldo or Messi can hardly be earned through playing alone.
Hence the wish: Playing matches should become more profitable.
The “Pro Clubs” mode needs a significant upgrade
Andrew Wilson has promised a significant leap in personalization and gameplay depth for FIFA 17. This hopefully also applies to “Pro Clubs”, as a lot more can be extracted from this mode than has been done so far.
In many respects, the outdated mode needs a modern makeover, more social features, and gameplay adjustments. We have already dealt extensively with the club mode in the FIFA series here, which is why the demand here is sufficient: Do not let the mode wither away!
Make the career mode more extensive
Many fans wish for more options in the career mode of the FIFA series. Our reader III wishes for a comprehensive manager part, which would “incredibly enhance” the football simulation for him.
Additionally, there are internet presentations suggesting an online co-op career or similar features that promote the aspect of “playing together.” We will have to wait and see what surprises EA Sports will present for the career mode.
More stadiums, more atmosphere
A few years ago, the “stadium atmosphere” in the FIFA series was quite limited: In the stands, some pixels moved rhythmically to the beat, and the fan chants were not exactly top-notch – it had little to do with football as we love it.
EA has made significant strides in this regard in recent years. Now, fans can be identified as people in the stadium, and the acoustics are also more varied and “realistic.” An important point that benefits the stadium atmosphere is: EA Sports is increasingly integrating more real stadiums into the game.
We hope that they will continue on this path for FIFA 17: Add even more stadiums (preferably more from the Bundesliga), make the fan chants more varied, and continuously improve the football atmosphere. Every fan of the round leather would surely appreciate that.
Give us the Third League
A wish that is especially expressed from Germany: The Third League. It contains some traditional clubs that fans want to see (again) in the FIFA series. However, the licenses for this league lie with the German Football Association, which EA still has to negotiate.
Hope comes from a statement by EA producer Sebastian Enrique: “I always push our licensing team to get more. I can promise nothing, but the 3rd league is on our list of things our community wants.” We would be happy about that. As our reader Norm An says: “3rd league and I’m in.”
Give us the ability to play unfairly
In football simulations of yesteryear, there was the ability to do diving and “intentional fouls” on demand, where players jumped into opponents head first.
Well, it’s probably not essential for FIFA 17. But we and many other fans of the game would be keen on it. And then a red card would follow if a brutal foul is committed. In that case, you’re to blame yourself.
But what impact diving and intentional fouls would have on game balance and how they would ultimately be received by fans is questionable. If the opponent gets away with a dive, the anger towards the referee and the opponent would be boundless. The developers likely want to avoid this (additional) frustration potential.
But perhaps EA Sports will find a way to integrate this appropriately. In the real world of football, diving and “frustration fouls” are also part of everyday life.
FIFA 17 and indoor football? What about it?
For many fans, FIFA 98 is considered the best FIFA ever. Why? Because of indoor football! For years, fans have been calling for this mode to return, which excited many players back in the day.
The chances of it returning in FIFA 17 are, however, slim. EA Sports has not made any hints lately that they will re-integrate indoor matches. But: Hope dies last.
60 euros for an “update”?
One thing fans have been complaining about for years: The annual FIFA installments are merely updates to their predecessors. Therefore, the price of around 60 euros for the standard edition is met with disbelief. Among others, our reader Longard points this out.
Of course, EA cannot reinvent football every year anew. But more innovations in gameplay modes, personalization options, or social features would likely encourage gamers to invest the hefty 60 euros.
How about a cover star from the Bundesliga?
This pious wish does not have the highest priority; however, many fans would welcome this step from EA. For years, only Lionel Messi has adorned the German cover of the football simulation from EA Sports. The logo of the Virtual Bundesliga is also displayed. However, a star from the Bundesliga is sorely missed.
It has been a while since players like Bastian Schweinsteiger or Mats Hummels were on the cover. On the covers of “FIFA 16” in other countries, additional stars like Jordan Henderson, Mauro Icardi, or for Austria David Alaba are featured.
What improvement suggestions are particularly on your mind?
Here we have compiled all the info on FIFA 17 that is already known.
