Since the announcement of FIFA 21, we have learned quite a bit about the new installment in the series. We will tell you what changes and what new features are particularly exciting.
FIFA 21 was officially presented, and since then there have been several trailers and detailed presentations of various modes from EA Sports itself. We summarize the most important innovations for you and tell you which features are particularly exciting compared to FIFA 20.
The improvements and newly added features are particularly interesting.
When is FIFA 21 released? The new FIFA installment will be released a little later than in previous years. On Friday, October 9, it will be available. The game is released for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and in a trimmed version also for the Nintendo Switch.
Later, versions for the next-gen consoles PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are to follow.
1. Here’s how you can play FIFA 21 before the release
These are the possibilities: As last year, it is also possible this time to play the new FIFA installment 8 days before the official release. To do this, you need a membership with EA Play or EA Play Pro.
If you get one of the special editions, you can play FIFA 21 without a time limitation 3 days before the release.
These are the different start dates:
- Start on October 1 – EA Play or EA Play Pro (presumably with time limitation)
- Start on October 6 – FIFA 21 Ultimate Edition
- Start on October 6 – FIFA 21 Champions Edition
- Start on October 9 – FIFA 21 Standard Edition
2. These are the gameplay innovations
This is changing in gameplay: EA has tweaked the gameplay of FIFA 21 and promises some innovations. These sound particularly interesting:
- Agile dribbling system
- Positioning personality
- Creative runs
This is the new “Agile dribbling system”: This new mechanic essentially replaces the strong drag-back from FIFA 20. You can perform quite tight dribbles on the spot – simply by holding R1 and choosing the desired direction. This will make it really difficult to take the ball away from you.
This is positioning personality: With the new “Positioning Personality”, world-class players should position themselves better and create more danger. Top strikers, for example, should recognize offside traps better than average strikers. Likewise, world-class defenders should be able to close passing lanes even more effectively.
What the “Creative runs” can do: An important factor will be the new creative runs that allow you to control players who are not on the ball. This is one of the features that could completely change your game – because mastering creative runs can surprise opponents with unusual running paths.
Our author Max Handwerk was able to play FIFA 21 early and reveals what he thinks about the gameplay innovations:
3. Finally header goals again?
This is new: In FIFA 20, headers were practically dead. Crosses from the outside rarely led to success; mostly high balls were blocked.
In the gameplay trailer, the new “manual headers” were presented. They ensure that you get no assistance with headers anymore – and can thus precisely control where the ball lands.
4. FIFA 21 lets you compete against simulated FIFA professionals
What’s new? The new “Competitor Mode” is supposed to offer more challenges against the CPU. The gameplay styles of the best real FIFA players are imitated, so that the computer should be able to use special moves, types of dribbling, and tactics better.
The mode is available on the difficulties “Legend” and “Ultimate”.
5. The rewind feature lets you turn back time
This is new: EA Sports introduces a rewind feature in FIFA 21, which allows you to rewind the game and thus replay missed scoring opportunities. A very interesting feature to train your offensive play.
However, there is a catch with the new feature: It only works in kickoff mode.
This is how the rewind feature works: The new rewind feature allows you to travel back 30 seconds in time to correct mistakes. The rewind is activated as follows:
- out of the game: L2/LT + R2/RT + Options button/Menu button
- in the menu: Select the “Instant Replay” option
Once you have activated the feature, you can choose the exact moment at which you want to get back into the game.
6. The career mode offers more freedom
This is new: For many FIFA players, the career mode is particularly important. Therefore, it is gratifying that EA has some innovations ready this year. However, the mode has not been completely overhauled.
Nevertheless, these innovations sound interesting:
- A completely revised training menu offers the possibility to develop talents better. Individual attributes such as “heading” can be improved individually.
- The positions of players can be changed. For example, a full-back can become a winger.
- The interactive match simulation allows you to intervene in a simulated match. For example, you can take charge of penalties or free kicks yourself.
7. In Pro Clubs there is more strategy
This is new: The popular Pro Clubs mode receives long overdue innovations to allow better customization and control of your team.
Previously, you could adjust your formation in Pro Clubs. However, there were no precise tactics, such as how the team should react without the ball or how far a full-back should really stay back.
With FIFA 21, this should change:
- You get 5 predefined tactics, which you can customize individually.
- You can give precise instructions to the AI about how it should behave in the game.
- The existing options for formations remain unchanged.
Additionally, the AI teammates can be completely customized. Names can be assigned, and the appearance of the players can be fully adjusted.
8. These innovations are supposed to save VOLTA
This is new: The second version of the VOLTA mode introduced in FIFA 20 is supposed to make everything better and excite players for the street mode. EA focuses on 3 major innovations:
- Finally, VOLTA can be played in online co-op. In the game mode “VOLTA Squads”, you can play with 2 friends as a street team.
- Featured Battles will become the new online mode for solo players. Here, you can unlock cosmetics and icons for your team.
- EA promises improved gameplay, so shots and tricks should go better.
9. In FUT, every player gets their own stadium
This is new: In FUT 21, the new FUT stadium is added to the existing customization options, which you can build and design according to your preferences as a FUT player.
There is a “FUT Stadium” that every player starts with. It has two upgrade levels, at which the following elements can be customized:
- The audience
- The structure of the stadium
- Choreographies in the stands
- Fan chants
- The base color of the stadium
- The sides of the pitch
- Presentation of the trophies won
10. Ultimate Team finally without annoying fitness cards
This is new: As EA announced, there will be no fitness items and training items in FIFA 21 anymore. Particularly the fitness items, which have existed since the launch of Ultimate Team in 2008, annoyed many players.
How does fitness work now? The fitness level and stamina will play a role within a match, including how long, how well, and how often a player can sprint, for example.
Every player starts each match with full fitness.
In addition to the fitness cards, training items will also be removed, officially because hardly anyone used this mechanic.
11. EA removes celebrations and shortens animations to reduce frustration
This is new: To reduce frustration during the already heated online matches, EA announced two changes for FIFA 21:
On the one hand, the animations for goal celebrations and set pieces should be significantly shorter. On the other hand, the developer has removed two celebrations. These two celebrations are:
- The “Shush” celebration, where the scorer holds their finger to their lips to signal that they should be quiet.
- The “A-Ok”, which is based on a celebration by Dele Alli.
The waiting times before standard situations, which previously lasted 30 seconds, are now as follows:
- Before kickoff, the wait time is now a maximum of 10 seconds
- Throw-ins last 12 seconds
- Goal kicks have 15 seconds
- Corners also get 15 seconds
- Penalties last 15 seconds
- Free kicks are now 20 seconds
Additionally, animations, such as when a player fetches the ball for a throw-in from outside, will now also be skipped.
12. Ultimate Team now with online co-op
This is new: Previously, it was only possible to play Ultimate Team matches together on one console. Online, this was not yet possible.
In FUT 21, this feature is now included and has also been shown as a major innovation in the first trailer. You can invite a friend over the network to play matches together in FUT. This is possible in the following modes:
- Division Rivals
- Squad Battles
- Friendly matches
You cannot participate together in the Weekend League.
Both players should be able to earn progress and rewards. Here we explain how it works:
13. EA Sports assures: No momentum
This is what it’s about: EA Sports has also assured this year that the controversial patent, which is supposed to ensure dynamic difficulty adjustment in online games, will not be used in FIFA 21.
From a gameplay perspective, there would be no reason to artificially influence the outcome of a game. The only game where the AI of an opponent is adjusted is the very first boot-up game, where the optimal difficulty level for the player is evaluated.
14. Info about the demo
Then the demo is released: After initially expecting a release around September 25, it is now clear that there will be no demo for FIFA 21.
