FIFA 21: EA responds to beta criticism, changes 27 things

The closed beta of FIFA 21 was the first opportunity to take a look at the new FIFA installment. EA Sports has now published a blog post detailing what they want to change based on the feedback. And there are quite a few points to address.

This is what EA Sports says about the FIFA 21 Beta: As EA Sports emphasizes, a lot of things will be adjusted even before the release of FIFA 21. These adjustments are based on player feedback and affect both gameplay and menu navigation in the different modes.

EA emphasizes that they have listened to feedback from both elite players and casual players. Here you will find an overview of all the changes that will be made based on the criticism from the beta testers.

Pitch Notes show the beta changes for FIFA 21

In the Pitch Notes, EA Sports addresses the changes that you can expect in the final game compared to the beta. The first section focuses on pure gameplay aspects. Here you can find by the way all gameplay innovations.

7 changes to FIFA 21 gameplay

This is changing in gameplay:

1. According to EA, it was criticized that opponents often received the ball back directly, even though they had been successfully tackled. This should now happen less frequently.
2. The dribbling has been slightly improved, especially for weaker dribblers, as some players felt too slow with the ball at their feet.
3. Certain types of crosses, such as sharply struck flat crosses, have been slightly slowed down. Especially for players who have weaknesses in crosses.
4. Some animations took too long, which is why the reaction speed of certain shots and passes has been increased in various situations. EA mentioned that there may be further adjustments in the future.
5. Players without good vision and strong passing attributes were still too effective with through balls. These values should now have a stronger impact when they are low.
6. The crosses were a bit too strong and attackers were not well covered. This should improve.
7. The referee too often called fouls, even in light collisions. This will also be improved.

5 changes in FIFA 21 Career

This is changing in career: EA emphasizes that the career mode is particularly important in FIFA 21. Particularly in recent years, there has often been criticism. Therefore, the points listed are only part of what they have learned from the beta. It is quite possible that they will be added to. You can find our career mode test here.

So far, the following changes have been made:

1. To simulate a training session, players previously had to go to the training hub. The simulation can now, however, be carried out directly from the training days menu – the path will be shorter, saving a menu jump.
2. Some manager objectives were unrealistic or were incorrectly marked as completed, which has been corrected.
3. You could not influence the weather in the match. This is now possible.
4. In player career, there were times when you were selected by the coach but could not play. A bug that has been fixed.
5. Certain menu elements reacted too slowly and have been sped up.

6 changes to Ultimate Team

This is changing in FUT:

1. The transfer market menu was too slow in some places and should now run more smoothly.
2. The main menu is also expected to feel more responsive.
3. In return, you could too easily accidentally land in the stadium menu or the squad screen, even though you did not want to go there. Here, the quick access has been slowed down.
4. FUT events were too difficult to find, and rewards and objectives were too unclear. All three should now be easier to find.
5. Chemistry styles have been rebalanced.
6. SBCs and live FUT friendly matches were not clearly found in the menu. EA also improved this.

Here you can find all the new features in Ultimate Team.

7 changes to Volta

This is changing in Volta:

1. Players reportedly had difficulty distinguishing between themselves and their opponents in some modes. This should now be more clearly recognizable.
2. The texture of the new Volta stadium made it difficult to recognize the gameplay. This will be improved.
3. There were too few options for players to customize their avatar. These should double at launch and continue to grow throughout the year.
4. Players wanted to place several of the new Groundbreakers in their team. This was apparently not possible so far and will be improved.
5. In Featured Battles, the milestones needed to obtain Groundbreakers have been lowered. This should make these players easier to obtain.
6. There are now 6 instead of 8 divisions in Volta Squads to improve matchmaking. Additionally, rewards have been improved.
7. Instead of 2 challenge ladders in Volta, there are now 5 at launch.

2 changes in Pro Clubs

This is changing in Pro Clubs: The changes in Pro Clubs are rather limited.

1. Players could not select the CM position for their Pro. This is now available with its own skill set, after previously only CAM and CDM were available.
2. Some positions like CB and CAM/CDM lacked sufficient speed. This has been adjusted.

If you haven’t had a chance to play the beta yet, you won’t have to wait much longer for the new game. The release is coming soon, and here you can find out how to play FIFA 21 even earlier.