EA released a Gameplay Deep Dive for FC25, showcasing many changes and new features. In this article, we will cover everything you might have missed and share our thoughts on the new additions and updates.
This article will cover off the follow:
- FC IQ
- Player Roles
- Team Tactics
- Smart Tactics
- Attacking Improvements
- Defending Improvements
- Goalkeeping Improvements
- Goalkeeper PlayStyles
- Set Pieces
- Additional features
FC IQ
This is the most significant change to tactics in a decade, bringing modern football strategies into FC. It uses real-world data to drive authenticity and give players more control over their teams. This represents a major overhaul of the existing tactics, player roles, and formations from previous years.
The Foundations of FC IQ
There are 3 key foundation of FC IQ, these are:
- Player Roles – Assign Player Roles to fit your team and player
- Team Tactics – Closer represents real world styles
- Smart Tactics – New in game quick tactics functionality
Player Roles
Player Roles are the main differentiation of FC IQ and guide how every player thinks, behaves, and moves off the ball. Each Role is distinct, with positive aspects and drawbacks.
Focus
Each role has 1-3 Focus’ per role, what a focus does is allow you specify how you want the player to play within that role, for example if you have a CM, and you grant them the Playmaker Role, you can set their Focus to be either Attack or Roaming, this determine how your CM Playmaker will move off of the ball.
At launch, there are 31 Roles, each with 1-3 Focuses, totaling 52 unique combinations.
Position | Role – Focus
- GK
- Goalkeeper – Defend | Balanced
- Sweeper Keeper – Balanced
- RB | LB
- Fullback – Defend | Balanced
- Wingback – Balanced
- Falseback – Defend | Balanced
- Attacking Wingback – Balanced | Attack
- CB
- Defender – Defend | Balanced
- Stopper – Balanced
- Ball-Playing Defender – Defend | Build-Up
- CDM
- Holding – Defend | Roaming
- Centre-Half – Defend
- Deep-Lying Playmaker – Defend | Roaming
- CM
- Box-to-Box – Balanced
- Holding – Defend
- Deep-Lying Playmaker – Defend
- Playmaker – Attack | Roaming
- Half-Winger – Balanced | Attack
- RM | LM
- Winger – Balanced | Attack
- Wide Midfielder – Defend | Balanced
- Wide Playmaker – Attack
- Inside Forward – Balanced | Attack
- CAM
- Playmaker – Balanced | Roaming
- Shadow Striker – Attack
- Half-Winger – Balanced | Attack
- RW | LW
- Winger – Balanced | Attack
- Inside Forward – Balanced | Attack | Roaming
- Wide Playmaker – Attack
- ST
- Advance Forward – Attack | Complete
- Poacher – Attack
- False 9 – Build-Up
- Target Forward – Balanced | Attack | Wide
In the image below you can see how a RB would action when given the Falseback Role, you can see that they have moved infield much more than a standard fullback.
If you were to give your LB the Attacking Wingback Role you can see they are much further up the field then a standard fullback.
As you can see defining the Player Roles will have a huge impact of how your players move With and Without the ball.
When you specify your players Role and Focus you are able to see their position With and Without the ball in the Team Tactics section.
The image below shows a standard setup for a 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow formation without the ball, as you can see this is something you would be used to seeing in previous version, the big difference is how this team looks with the ball.
In the image below you can see how the team will look with the ball, here the Attacking Wingback Role for Carvajal pushes him much further up the pitch than a standard Fullback.
While a Role dictates the main responsibilities of the player, the Focus is a modifier upon the Role that enables players to slightly tweak one or two characteristics of it.
Familiarity
For each Player Role, a player will have Role Familiarity, this means how well a player can play in the Role which you have selected, and this will have a major impact in how your player performs in game.
Upon Launch there are 4 types of Role Familiarity, these are:
- [Role] – A base role means the player can play in that Role.
- [Role+] – Indicated with a ‘+’ sign meaning this player has mastered the Role.
- Every player in FC 25 has at least one Role+.
- [Role++] – A ‘++’ sign indicates the player is a world-class player in this role.
- Out of Position – The yellow exclamation mark indicates a simplified version of the Role when the player is out of position.
Team Tactics
Team Tactics is an addition to the custom tactics settings that were available in previous years, there are a few key features:
- Tactical Settings – Similar to previous years you can change the Build Up Style and Defensive approach of your Team Tactic
- Tactical Presets – Quickly set up tactics, these tactics are inspired by real life clubs and manager styles
- Summary – This provides a dynamic feedback of the strengths and weakness of your tactic
- With Ball/Without – You are able to see how your team moves with and without the ball
You can create and manage up to five fully custom tactics that are independent of each other, this allows you to edit/activate/rename/duplicate and delete any tactics that you create.
Each tactic also generates a unique code in which you can share with your friends, making it easier than ever to share your custom tactics. This code is universal and works for any version of FC25.
Smart Tactics
Smart Tactics is an improvement to the ‘D Pad’ Tactics that have been available in previous years, this allows you to do much more in game, reducing the need to pause the game. Here are some of the new smart tactic features:
- My Tactics – Change to any one of your created tactics
- Tactical Focus – Change to an Attacking or Defending focus, or even back to the Default choice
- Quick Tactics – Active Team Press, Offside Trap, Overload Ball Side and Get in the Box
- Tactical Suggestions – The game will suggest tactics based on what is happening in game
- Substitutions – Make quick substations (3 options available)
Attacking Improvements
The attacking phase of the game has been extensively revamped with an Accuracy Overhaul. This includes new skill moves, the ability to let the ball run to create space, and enhancements to passing, shooting, and dribbling.
Passing
Passing has undergone some changes for FC25, this has been done with the idea to make each pass feel more authentic and rewarding.
In FC24 it was identified that certain passes were somewhat unrealistic with a high outcome of success and by this I mean things like passing to a player you are facing away from, or hitting a long through ball pass to your player the other side of the pitch with a player with low attributes in this area. In FC25 this has been addressed and will require more thought on each pass.
Below is a video showing a visual representation of this.
Shooting
Similar to Passing, Shooting has undergone some changes for FC25, this has also been done with the idea to make each shot feel more realistic.
Players can expect that taking shots in difficult situations will feel more challenging, with new animations added to showcase off-balance and tough-angle shots
Dribbling
There has been a focus on refining the dribbling experience, which essentially means that the ‘left stick’ dribbling in FC25 should feel much better as EA have improved the dribbling animations and removed certain animations which made for some potentially awkward moments in FC24.
The dribbling improvements include:
- Improvements to various turning angles
- New and Refreshed animations when dribbling with the ball
- New and Refreshed animations when receiving the ball
The below video shows the improvements made to dribbling:
There has also been some changes to the Effort Dribble, First Touch PlayStyle and also the Let Ball Run dribble.
Skill Moves
In FC25, EA is introducing four new skill moves and making several changes to existing ones. Click here to see all of the details.
Defending Improvements
Defending has also been upgraded with the introduction of professional fouls, adding new strategic elements to gameplay. Enhancements to goalkeeper movement and rushes, along with increased Player Switching speed, aim to make defending more responsive for players.
Professional Foul
This action can be a strategic choice to halt a counterattack or stop an opponent’s promising advance. However, while initially always resulting in a yellow card, excessive use of Professional Fouls in a match can lead to red cards.
To request a professional foul, you can press: R1+X || RB+A
Other updates include improvements to Next Player Switching, Slide Tackles and Shoulder Challenges. Additionaly, defensive positioning has also been improved.
Goalkeeping Improvements
The goalkeeper position has received several improvements in FC25, from Goalkeeper Movement to the new Rush to Contain mechanic.
Goalkeeper Movement
Goalkeepers can only be manually moved 1-2 steps in any direction, with a short cooldown period after use to prevent this move from being overused.
The below videos shows how this will look in game.
Goalkeeper Rush
Goalkeeper Rush is new mechanic will have the goalkeeper rush out and close the distance to the attacking player but remain a distance away from them to close down the shooting angle.
To perform Goalkeeper Rush to Contain:
- Tap ▲ + Hold ▲ || Tap Y + Hold Y
Goalkeeper Playstyles
In FC25, EA will continue to build on the success of PlayStyles introduced in FC24. PlayStyles promote player individuality and authenticity and this year EA will be introducing 6 new Goalkeeper PlayStyles.
These new features will add more depth and realism to the game, allowing goalkeepers to have unique traits and specialized skills, the new PlayStyles are: Footwork, Rush Out, Deflector, Cross Claimer, Far Throw and Far Reach.
Click here for a more in-depth look into all of the new Goalkeeper PlayStyles.
Set Pieces
Set pieces have also been revamped for FC25, with changes coming to corners, free kicks, and penalties.
Corners
Corner Roles – Players can now select players to fill 3 important locations during corner kicks;
- Near Post: Player selected here will be the main post watcher on the defensive corner and will make the near post run on the offensive corner.
- Back Post: Player selected here will be located on the far side of the defensive corner and will make a back post run on the offensive corner.
- Target Player: This player will be located centrally in the box on the offensive corner.
The below image shows how you will assign these players:
This image shows an in game representation of these roles:
Free Kicks
A few changes to the Free Kicks
- Quick Free Kicks: Players can now request a Precision Pass R1 + ▲ || RB + Y from a Quick Free Kick
- EA have adjusted the shot speed from further distances to allow for more options when taking a far free kick.
Penalty Kicks
A few minor changes to Penalty Kicks
- Adjusted Composure Circle speed based on the player’s Composure Attribute.
- New Penalty Kick animations for multiple players.
Additional Features
On top of all of the new changes and updates listed in this articled, here are a few additional features that are coming to FC25.
- Eval Engine
- Added a new Pass Map in the stats screen to provide more in depth information for players.
- Player Movement
- We’ve made the following improvements to player movement:
- Off-Ball Movement: Improvements to player movement visuals when moving around the pitch
- Goal Post Interactions: New interaction animations when a player collides with the goal post.
- Goalkeeper Falls: Improved visual quality of the goalkeeper’s movement when falling and getting up off the ground to bring more authentic motion to the game.
- Shielding: Improved consistency of player’s ability to shield the player from incoming players. Shielding is now tied to player fatigue, so the more tired a player is, the weaker their shielding can be.
Comments