For FC 25, EA has already announced that in addition to the free season pass, a paid premium version will be introduced. A screenshot from the closed beta for Ultimate Team has seemingly leaked the price. This is causing quite a stir on Reddit.
How has the season pass worked so far in EA FC? The season pass has been a part of Ultimate Team since FIFA 20. In each new season, it offers you the opportunity to unlock additional content such as special players, bonus packs, or unique club items.
To reach the individual levels of the season pass, you need experience points (XP), which you earn by completing certain tasks. In the new FC 25, there will be a cross-mode season pass for career, clubs, and ultimate team, meaning you can earn XP in each of these game modes and unlock rewards for each mode.
However, it is not this new feature that has fans upset. With the introduction of the paid premium season pass, many fans fear more pay-to-win, as also warned by a FIFA expert who cautioned potential buyers some time ago.
Leak on Reddit reveals possible costs of the new season pass
A post on Reddit allegedly shows screenshots from the closed beta of the ultimate team mode in FC 25. The image might reveal the costs for the premium season pass:
How much will the new season pass cost? At the bottom center of the screen, it is revealed that access to the premium pass will cost 750,000 coins or 1,500 FC points. 1,500 FC points correspond to about €15.
A season usually lasts between 4 and 6 weeks. Assuming an average of 5 weeks per season, if you want to purchase the premium season pass until the end of FC 25 (about 50 weeks a year), you would need to pay approximately €150 extra, about 10 times €15.
This has left many fans upset. They express their frustration in the comments on the leak on Reddit.
Fans outraged over “unacceptable” price
How is the community reacting to the leak? Most players on Reddit agree that they find this price exorbitant.
The top comment by user GetBent009 with 1,200 upvotes captures the general sentiment of fans: “This is unacceptable for a game that already demands the full price.” (via reddit.com)
EA FC would gradually adopt traits of a mobile game, where the pay-to-win factor would come more into play. (via reddit.com)
Even though players are free to simply play the free season pass, many casuals would not be satisfied with that. User TheReal-Tonald-Drump notes that the power curve in EA FC does not allow casual players to keep up at all without spending real money, if others are investing money in the game at the same time. (via reddit.com)
And indeed, the disadvantage could be significant if one decides against purchasing the premium season pass, as besides the costs, the first bonuses of the paid version have apparently also been shown:
The second image from the Reddit post shows the rewards for levels 12 to 15. In addition to the bonuses of the regular season pass, the extra bonuses of the premium version can also be seen.
What do you get in the premium pass? In levels 12 and 14, for instance, you can expect powerful upgrade packs with guaranteed minimum ratings of 84 and 85 for Ultimate Team. This sounds very strong for the start of FC 25.
At level 15, you are even waiting for double the amount of rewards, which according to the image could promise double coins, packs, and more.
This makes the paid rewards seem really more worthwhile.
Despite the potential disadvantages, many users still appeal to the community to forgo the paid season pass. Very dramatically puts it, MT1120, when he writes: “The option to buy it for 750,000 coins exists only to make you poor and get nothing in return. If you really buy it with coins, there is no hope for you.” (via reddit.com)
It seems there is already a lot of controversy surrounding the new season pass even before the launch of FC 25.
We would like to point out once again that the discussions are based on a leak that has not yet been officially confirmed. How EA will actually implement the premium season pass in the game remains to be seen. However, what is certain is the new German commentators. They have been received with much goodwill by fans: FC 25 comes without its legendary commentators for the first time in 9 years – but fans celebrate their successors
