Creative Soccer Culture

EA Sports Offer First Look At FIFA 21 On Next-Gen Consoles

The next generation of EA Sports FIFA 21 is set to arrive on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on 4 December, and it promises to bring with it a whole new level of authenticity. On the pitch and in the stands, technology unlocked by the power of the new generation of consoles promises to enable players to immerse themselves in ultra-realistic stadiums for the most true-to-life matchday experience in EA Sports FIFA history.

The excitement surrounding the launch of FIFA 21 is back for a second time, with the game set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Long gone are the days of pixelated blurs of colour running diagonally up or down your screen… This is taking things to the next level in some serious style, with the promise of lightning fast load times and enhanced sights, sounds, and player movement, in addition to ultra-realistic football environments. Prepare to be unavailable for the foreseeable after 4 December…

While we’ve all been getting to grips with the more fluid attack-oriented gameplay of the latest instalment of the FIFA franchise, we now have what looks to be a very revamped version to get used to; one that is set to take full advantage of the power of the next-gen consoles. 

So what changes can we expect? Well, to start, the sights and sounds of the game have been reimagined, with the brand new EA SPORTS GameCam inspired by the look and feel of top-level football broadcasts and LiveLight Rendering, a deferred lighting system that enhances every aspect of the on-pitch experience. Thousands of authentic chants captured exclusively from the world’s biggest competitions, including the Premier League, La Liga and the Bundesliga, deliver the ultimate EA SPORTS Atmospheric Audio experience, unparalleled in sports video games.

The players themselves are set to look more real than ever, with deeper definition in player physiques, including flexing muscles after strikes and strand-based hair on some of the top footballers, combined with dynamic lighting that accentuates footballers’ faces and kits.

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New pre-game cinematics such as team buses arriving prior to kick-off and the buzz of fans entering through the turnstiles have been added to further immerse fans in the total matchday experience. During live games, new contextual player, bench, and fan reactions respond to key match situations, allowing players to feel the explosive passion and intense drama of big goal moments like last-minute winners or relegation-saving equalisers. 

We’re excited to deliver a new level of authenticity that will immerse players in the game like never before when they step out onto the virtual pitch in FIFA 21,” said Aaron McHardy, Executive Producer, EA SPORTS FIFA. “With next level immersive experiences that truly bring the most recognizable stadiums and professional players to life, the technology behind these next generation consoles opens up a world of possibilities for how players will experience the world’s game this year and into the future.

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To add to the total immersion, off-ball humanisation creates authentic character behaviours, from a player adjusting shin pads in the 89th minute to one screaming for a through ball from a teammate. All of this and with the promise of blazing fast load times that allow players to get in the game quicker than ever before.

In addition, for those with PlayStation 5 consoles, PlayStation Activities gets players into the action even faster by letting them jump straight from the PlayStation home screen into their favourite game modes. Rich and responsive haptic technology through the new PS5™ DualSense™ controller allows players to sense the impact of shots, passes, and tackles and feel the rhythm of the game in their hands.

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FIFA 21 will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on 4 December.

Author
Daniel Jones

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