 |
| EA Sports FIFA 22 |
EA Sports FIFA 22
| Platform | Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S Stadia Nintendo Switch |
| DESIGN | |
|---|---|
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Developer(s) | EA Vancouver EA Romania |
| Publisher(s) | EA Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Composer(s) | Multi composers (52 tracks) |
| Series | FIFA |
| Engine | Frostbite 3 (PS4, PS5, XOne, XSX/S, PC, Stadia) |
| Release Date | October 1, 2021 |
| Download Link | PlayStation | Xbox | Windows | Stadia |
| Price | Standard Edition: Included with EAPlay at $4.99/ month Ultimate Edition: Included with EA Play at $4.99/ month |
FIFA 22, developed and published by Electronic Arts, is a football simulation video game that marks the 29th installment in the FIFA series. It was globally released on October 1, 2021, available for platforms including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Notably, players who pre-ordered the ultimate edition enjoyed four days of early access, starting from September 27.
Continuing a trend, Kylian Mbappé graced the cover as the game's featured athlete for the second consecutive year.
In light of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, EA took action by removing the Russian national teams from all versions of the football video game through a patch (1.22), and they also made Russian and Belarusian players ineligible for FIFA 22, with an exception for those playing in foreign leagues.
Features
HyperMotion Technology
FIFA 22 introduces a groundbreaking feature known as "HyperMotion Technology," a significant leap in the realm of football simulation. This innovation involves the utilization of motion capture data drawn from the dynamic movements of 22 actual players engaged in a high-energy football match while wearing motion capture suits. The information gathered from a wide range of actions, including player movements, tackles, aerial contests, and on-ball interactions, serves as the driving force behind the gameplay experience of FIFA 22.
Remarkably, the game leverages this amassed data within its machine learning algorithm, which employs an astonishing "8.7 million frames of advanced match capture." This intricate process enables the generation of impressively realistic player motions and animations both on and off the ball, all in real time.
It's important to note that the "HyperMotion" feature is exclusively available on the 9th Generation consoles and Stadia versions of the game, marking a notable advancement in the FIFA series. This remarkable technological stride has given rise to the game's compelling slogan, "Powered By Football," encapsulating the fusion of cutting-edge technology and the sport's authenticity.
Career mode
In FIFA 22, players can immerse themselves in a captivating single-player "career mode," offering the unique opportunity to embody either a player or a manager over the course of a remarkable 15-year journey. A notable addition to the manager career mode is the introduction of a "create-a-club" feature, which empowers players to craft a brand-new club from the ground up. This entails the customization of kits, a distinctive crest, and even the design of a personalized home stadium, providing an unprecedented level of creative freedom.
Within the career mode experience, a dynamic "level" system takes center stage. As users navigate their player's or manager's path, they have the chance to accumulate valuable experience points. These points serve as a key to unlocking an array of player skills and advantageous "perks" that work towards enhancing various statistics. This innovative approach adds a strategic layer to the gameplay, enabling players to strategically improve and evolve their characters as they progress through their captivating careers.
Ultimate Team
In FIFA 22, the captivating "Ultimate Team" game mode invites players to craft their own unique team and engage in both online and offline matches to earn an assortment of cards, including the intriguing "FUT Heroes" cards, which can be integrated into their lineup. This mode presents an exciting opportunity for players to enhance and customize their teams through strategic card collection.
A notable addition to FIFA 22 Ultimate Team is the introduction of "FUT Heroes" cards, each representing distinct players endowed with special ratings and exceptional attributes. This exclusive collection of heroes adds a unique twist to the gameplay, allowing players to infuse their teams with the strengths and skills of these iconic figures.
Among the roster of "FUT Heroes" cards, players can find a diverse array of legendary football personalities, such as Mario Gómez, Tim Cahill, Diego Milito, Jorge Campos, Fernando Morientes, Sami Al-Jaber, Robbie Keane, Abedi Pelé, Lars Ricken, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Antonio Di Natale, Iván Córdoba, Freddie Ljungberg, Jürgen Kohler, Jerzy Dudek, Aleksandr Mostovoi, Joe Cole, and David Ginola. Each of these heroes brings a unique set of attributes and qualities to the game, adding a dynamic and nostalgic dimension to the Ultimate Team experience.
Card Array
FIFA 22 offers an array of cards, listed accordingly below:
1. Bronze Common & Rare
2. COMNEBOL Libertadores & Copa Sudamericana
3. Silver Common & Rare
4. Gold Common & Rare
5. FUT Heroes
6. Shapeshifters
7. Team Of The Year (TOTY)
8. Team Of The Season (TOTS)
9. Adidas Numbers-Up
10. Domestic Man Of The Match
11. POTM (Serie A, Ligue 1, Laliga Santander etc.)
12. Team Of The Week
13. TOTS TOKEN
14. SHAPESHIFTERS TOKEN
15. SHAPESHIFTERS Heros
16. FUT BIRTHDAY TOKEN
17. FUT Birthday
18. FUT Future Stars
19. Rulebreakers
20. FUT VS ICE
21. FUT VS FIRE
22. Road To The Finals
23. Road To The Knockouts
24. Team Of The Group Stage (TOTGS)
25. Flashback
26. FUT Fantasy Upgrade
27. FUT Fantasy
28. Silver Stars
29. FUT Captains
30. FUT Captain Heroes
31. Futties
32. Summer Swaps Tokens
33. Summer Swaps Tokens
34. FGS Swaps
35. Icons
36. Prime Icon Moments
To keep players engaged and excited, FIFA 22 employs a variety of card promotions that coincide with significant global events like Christmas or Halloween. Additionally, special promotions are tailored to events within the FIFA community, such as the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, or UEFA Conference League. Among the most eagerly anticipated promotions in the game's annual calendar are the Team of the Year (TOTY) and Team of the Season (TOTS) events. These celebrations honor the top 12 players of the year and the finest talents from the world's most prestigious leagues, respectively. During these promotions, players' attributes receive enhancements across the board, encompassing both physical and technical traits like skill move stars.
Much like its predecessor FIFA 21, FIFA 22 introduces "icon" cards, which mirror the concept of "FUT Heroes." These special cards pay homage to legendary former players, contributing a nostalgic touch to the game. The latest installment welcomes notable football icons to the roster, including Iker Casillas, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, and Cafu. Notably, players are granted the option to preview Silver and Gold player packs before purchase, a feature that allows them to gauge the potential contents of a pack before making a decision.
It's worth noting that "icon" cards are classified as exceptionally rare, with the odds of obtaining one from a player pack falling below the 1% mark. This scarcity adds an element of excitement and aspiration to the process of acquiring these prestigious cards.
VOLTA Football
FIFA 22 introduces exciting new mechanics to the VOLTA mode, enhancing the gameplay experience with unique features. In this installment, players have the ability to activate special abilities during a match, providing a substantial boost to a specific attribute of their in-game avatar. These enhancements are referred to as Signature Abilities, with three distinct options available: Power Strike, Pure Pace, and Aggressive Tackle. These abilities add an extra layer of strategic depth and excitement to VOLTA matches, allowing players to tailor their playstyle to their preferences and capitalize on their chosen strengths.
Moreover, FIFA 22 extends the social and interactive aspects of the VOLTA mode by introducing the VOLTA Arcade. Within this new feature, players can engage in various online mini game modes with the option to team up with friends. The VOLTA Arcade enhances the multiplayer experience, enabling players to connect and compete in fun and diverse game modes alongside up to three other players. This addition enhances the sense of camaraderie and competition, fostering an engaging and enjoyable atmosphere within the VOLTA community.
Pro Clubs: Craft Your Legacy
Pro Clubs is an engaging game mode that empowers players to craft their personalized virtual characters and partake in 11v11 online matches. In this mode, participants can join forces with up to 10 friends for thrilling online matchups, with each player assuming control of their unique virtual character on the playing field.
Adding depth to the experience, players can fine-tune the physical attributes of their avatars, influencing their in-game capabilities. For instance, a taller avatar might exhibit a slightly slower running speed compared to a shorter counterpart. Moreover, Pro Clubs avatars evolve and enhance their skills over time as players accumulate game time and excel in matches.
The customization options extend beyond individual avatars, allowing players to tailor various aspects of their team, including the team's emblem, kits, and the appearance of their stadium. This feature-rich mode delivers an immersive and dynamic virtual football experience, emphasizing both team collaboration and individual player growth.
Player Traits
Traits serve as distinctive attributes that impact a player's actions and behaviors within the game environment. Each trait carries a specific purpose, influencing how a player's actions unfold, whether under user control or computer guidance.
These traits are categorized into four distinct groups: Standard traits, CPU AI traits, Career Mode traits, and VOLTA Football traits. The Standard traits wield their influence over both user-driven and CPU-guided players, encompassing a diverse range of abilities such as various types of shots, throw-ins, passing aptitude, dribbling finesse, and player well-being.
Conversely, CPU AI traits offer comparable skills to the Standard traits, but solely exert their effect when the computer takes charge of the player's actions. Additionally, Career Mode and VOLTA Football traits focus their impact on specific game modes, tailoring the player's abilities and actions to align with the distinct dynamics of these modes.
In essence, traits introduce a layer of intricacy and variety to player actions, contributing to a richer and more nuanced gameplay experience across different facets of the game.
Licenses
FIFA 22 boasts an extensive lineup of content, encompassing over 30 officially licensed leagues, upwards of 700 clubs, and a remarkable roster exceeding 17,000 players. Notably, the game introduces several compelling additions to its roster, including the Indian Super League and its eleven teams, as well as the UEFA Europa Conference League, a newly established tier within European club football.
This installment features an array of newly included stadiums, such as Estádio da Luz (S.L. Benfica's home ground), Estádio do Dragão (FC Porto's arena), and Nuevo Mirandilla (Cádiz CF's stomping ground). Additionally, a subsequent update introduced the Brentford Community Stadium, ensuring representation for all 20 Premier League teams with their respective venues.
It's worth noting that certain licensing constraints have led to the absence of Juventus, Roma, Atalanta, and Lazio from FIFA 22. In lieu of their official names and imagery, these teams are respectively identified as Piemonte Calcio, Roma FC, Bergamo Calcio, and Latium. While the player likenesses remain intact, EA Sports has crafted custom designs and generic stadiums in lieu of the official badges and kits.
Notably, Bayern Munich and Barcelona maintain a presence in the game, complete with licensed players and kits. However, due to licensing limitations, these teams are represented without their corresponding stadium licenses, necessitating their participation within generic stadiums.
In a groundbreaking move, Wrexham A.F.C., under the stewardship of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are introduced in the "Rest of World" segment. This inclusion marks the first instance of a non-league team being featured in the FIFA series, highlighting Wrexham's reentry after their prior appearance in FIFA 08.
Removals and Shadows
In February 2022, EA Sports made a significant decision regarding FIFA 22, FIFA Online, and FIFA Mobile in response to the unfolding events involving the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As a consequence of this geopolitical situation, the teams hailing from the Russian Premier League and the Russia national football team were effectively removed from the mentioned FIFA titles. This measure was taken in alignment with the bans imposed by both FIFA and UEFA on Russian teams from their respective competitions, an action taken on March 1, 2022.
This announcement followed another notable removal from the game. Mason Greenwood, the Manchester United forward, was excluded from FIFA 22 due to ongoing allegations of sexual abuse against him. This decision was implemented as a result of the circumstances surrounding Greenwood's arrest and the subsequent absence of his participation in any matches.
Furthermore, EA Sports found itself in a legal dispute concerning the utilization of Diego Maradona's likeness in FIFA 22. The disagreement stemmed from claims that EA had engaged with the wrong party during negotiations, thereby lacking the rightful rights to feature Maradona's image. Consequently, the renowned football figure was suspended from the game in March 2022.
In addition to these developments, Japan's women's national soccer team was also omitted from the game, highlighting a further aspect of changes made to FIFA 22 in response to various circumstances and legal considerations.
Commentators
In the English-language version of the game, FIFA 22 introduces a fresh commentary lineup with two new voices. Stewart Robson steps in to take on the role of co-commentator alongside Derek Rae, a departure from the previous co-commentator Lee Dixon. Meanwhile, Alex Scott assumes the responsibility of delivering in-game score updates in Career Mode, succeeding Alan McInally in this capacity.
Alex Scott brings a unique perspective to her commentary role, having a notable history in football as a former player for the Arsenal women's team. Following her retirement from playing in 2018, she transitioned into a pundit role on popular sports media outlets such as Sky Sports and Match of the Day.
Stewart Robson, on the other hand, boasts a football career that includes making 150 appearances for Arsenal as a player. Upon his retirement from active play, Robson shifted his focus to working within Arsenal's media team and embarked on a career as a commentator for various media platforms.
These new additions to the commentary team in FIFA 22 contribute to refreshing and enhancing the in-game experience for players, offering a blend of expertise and insights from individuals with rich backgrounds in the world of football.
Soundtrack
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| Area21 | "Followers" |
| ArrDee | "Oliver Twist" |
| Baby Queen | "You Shaped Hole" |
| Binki | "Landline" |
| Caio Prado | "Baobá" |
| Casper Caan | "Last Chance" |
| Che Lingo ft. Tamaraebi | "Eyes on the Prize" |
| Chvrches | "Good Girls" |
| Elderbrook and Bob Moses | "Inner Light" |
| Feiertag featuring Msafiri Zawose | "Trepidation" |
| Garden City Movement featuring Lola Marsh | "Summer Night" |
| Girl in Red | "Apartment 402" |
| Glass Animals | "I Don't Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)" |
| Ali van Jay | "Air Horn" |
| Harvey Causon | "Tenfold" |
| Hendrix Harris | "The Hill" |
| Hope Tala | "Mad" |
| Inhaler | "Totally" |
| Behnam Bani | "Ghorse ghamar 2" |
| Joy Crookes | "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" |
| Jungle | "Talk About It" |
| Kero Kero Bonito | "Well Rested" |
| Kojey Radical ft. Lex Amor | "War Outside" |
| Kokoko! | "Donne moi, je te donne?" |
| Little Simz | "Fear No Man" |
| Loyle Carner | "Yesterday" |
| Luke Hemmings | "Motion" |
| Moodoïd featuring Melody's Echo Chamber | "Only One Man" |
| Morad | "Seguimos" |
| Musti and Jelassi featuring Gabifuego | "Fuego" |
| My Morning Jacket | "Love Love Love" |
| Pa Salieu featuring Slowthai | "Glidin'" |
| Abouzar Rouhi | "Salam farmandeh" |
| Polyamory | "Hallelujah" |
| Jafar | "Goodbye Party" |
| Pedro Capo | "Calma" |
| Seb | "Seaside Demo" |
| Shango SK | "High Way" |
| Sir Was | "Before the Morning Comes" |
| Swedish House Mafia featuring Ty Dolla Sign and 070 | "Lifetime" |
| Terry Presume | "Act Up" |
| The Chemical Brothers | "The Darkness That You Fear" |
| TSHA featuring Trio Da Kali | "Demba" |
| V.I.C | "A Teen" |
| Willow Kayne | "Two Seater" |
| Yard Act | "The Overload" |
| Young Franco featuring Denzel Curry and Pell | "Fallin' Apart" |
FIFA 22 VOLTA Soundtrack
| Artist | Song |
|---|---|
| 84 Controller featuring Caitlyn Scarlett | "U & Me" |
| AC Slater, Darkzy and P Money | "Vibes on Tap" |
| Apollo BrownAitch featuring Avelino | "Party Round My Place" |
| AJ Tracey and Mabel | "West Ten" |
| Aluna | "Body Pump" (Sammy Virji Remix) |
| Amber Mark | "Mixer" (Preditah Remix) |
| Ares Carter featuring Charlotte Haining | "Out of Lives" |
| Armand van Helden and Riva Starr featuring Sharlene Hector | "Step It Up" (Zach Witness Remix) |
| Ashnikko featuring Kelis | "Deal with It" |
| EA featuring Hans Zimmer | "CL" (Remix) |
| Badmómzjay | "Tu nicht so" |
| Big Zuu featuring D Double E | "Variation" |
| Bklava | "Thinkin' of You" |
| BLOODMOON | "Disarm" |
| Bluey | "Wine It" |
| Brockhampton featuring Danny Brown | "Buzzcut" |
| Abouzar Rouhi | "Salam farmandeh" |
| Madgal | "Chera" |
| Choomba featuring LP Giobbi and Blush'ko | "Say It" |
| Cobrah | "U Know Me" |
| Cole LC featuring Adz | "Westbrook" |
| Reza Pishro | "Asare Manfi" |
| Dan D'Lion | "Good Times to Come" |
| DJ Snake and Malaa | "Pondicherry" |
| DRS and Mozey | "Dance the Night Away" |
| Earthgang featuring Future | "Billi" |
| Firebeatz | "Let's Get Down" |
| Flohio | "Whiplash" |
| Headie One featuring Young T and Bugsey | "Princess Cuts" |
| Hermitude | "Hyperparadise" (Flume Remix) [GANZ Flip] |
| Hybrid Minds featuring Grace Grundy | "Bad to Me" |
| JAE5 featuring Skepta and Rema | "Dimension" |
| Jay Prince | "In the Morning" |
| Jimothy Lacoste | "Describe a Vibe" |
| John Newman | "Love Me Again" (Vice Remix) |
| Kah-Lo | "Commandments" |
| Kent Jones featuring Rick Ross | "Bout That" |
| Keys N Krates | "Brazilian Love Song" |
| Kream | "Take Control" |
| Lice (Aesop Rock and Homeboy Sandman) | "Ask Anyone" |
| Lorde featuring Run The Jewels | "Supercut" (El-P Remix) |
| LoveLeo featuring Rico Nasty | "Tung Tied" |
| Machinedrum featuring Dawn Richard | "Do It 4 U" |
| Major Lazer featuring Sia and Labrinth | "Titans" (VIP Remix) |
| Manga Saint Hilare and Lewi B | "Don't Just Sit There. Do Something" |
| MK XYZ | "Geaux" |
| Mr Jukes and Barney Artist featuring Kofi Stone | "Check the Pulse" |
| Neon Nights featuring Outlaw The Artist | "Shining" |
| Noisy | "24/7" |
| Nutty P and PAV4N | "Moves" |
| NVDES | "Out with a Bang" |
| Odeal | "More Life" |
| Orang Utan | "Who's Your Love?" |
| P Money and Silencer | "Doing Well" |
| PAV4N and Kromestar | "Stasis" |
| Rêve | "Ctrl+Alt+Delete" |
| RL Grime and Isoxo | "Stinger" |
| Saint Bodhi | "Blessed" |
| Seeyousoon | "Ben Affleck" |
| Shay D | "Talk of the Town" |
| Shygirl | "Siren" |
| Statik Selektah featuring Joey Bad4ss | "Watch Me" |
| Stylolive, Los Rakas and Happy Colors | "Uno 2 Tres" |
| Terrell Hines | "Otherside" |
| The Chemical Brothers | "The Darkness That You Fear" |
| The Dirty 33 and Bobbie Johnson | "Glowed Up" |
| Verb T and Illinformed | "Low Notes" |
| Xvoto | "Brainfreeze" |
Release
Editions
FIFA 22 is available in two editions: Standard and Ultimate. Previous games in the series have included a Champions Edition, but FIFA 22 does not. Players who pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition received a variety of bonuses, including four days of early access.
Here is a breakdown of the bonuses for the Ultimate Edition:
- 4 days early access: Players who pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition were able to start playing FIFA 22 on September 27, 2021, four days before the game's official release date of October 1, 2021.
- Team of the Week 1 Player item: Players who pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition received a Team of the Week 1 Player item, which is a special card that can be used in FIFA Ultimate Team.
- Kylian Mbappe Loan item: Players who pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition also received a loan item of Kylian Mbappe, the cover star of FIFA 22. This allows players to use Mbappe in their FIFA Ultimate Team squad for a limited time.
- FUT Ambassador Loan Player Pick: Players who pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition could choose from one of three FUT Ambassador loan players: David Alaba, Phil Foden, or Heung-min Son. These players can be used in FIFA Ultimate Team for a limited time.
- Career Mode Homegrown Talent: Players who pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition received a Homegrown Talent in their Career Mode save. This is a young player with the potential to become a star.
- Dual Entitlement: Players who pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One were able to upgrade to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S version of the game for free.
The Standard Edition of FIFA 22 does not include any of these bonuses. However, it is still a great game and offers a lot of value for the price. It includes all of the core features of FIFA 22, such as the ability to play in a variety of modes, including Career Mode, Ultimate Team, and Pro Clubs.
Ultimately, the decision of which edition of FIFA 22 to buy comes down to personal preference. If you want the earliest possible access to the game, the most bonus content, and the ability to upgrade to the next-gen version for free, then the Ultimate Edition is the way to go. However, if you're on a budget or don't care about the bonuses, then the Standard Edition is a great option.
Standard Edition
The Standard Edition of FIFA 22 is available for $59.99 on previous generation consoles (PS4 and Xbox One) and $69.99 on new generation consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series X). Players who pre-ordered the Standard Edition received the following bonuses:
- A Team of the Week 1 Player Item
- A Kylian Mbappé Loan Item
- A FUT Ambassador Loan Player Pick
- A Career Mode Homegrown Talent
Ultimate Edition
The Ultimate Edition of FIFA 22 is available for $99.99 on all consoles. Players who pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition received the same bonuses as the Standard Edition, plus the following benefits:
- An Untradeable "Ones to Watch" Player Item
- 4,600 FIFA Points
- Dual Entitlement: Free upgrade to new generation consoles
- Four Days of Early Access
Ambassadors
FIFA ambassadors are typically well-known current or retired players who are featured on the cover, loading screens, in Ultimate Team packs, and in advertising campaigns. The official ambassadors of FIFA 22 are Son Heung-Min, David Alaba, Christian Pulisic, Phil Foden, Alphonso Davies, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Television presenter and singer Yūka Kageyama was appointed ambassador for the Japanese market.
Reception
Sales
EA Sports' FIFA 22 has shattered sales records, with 77% of all copies sold in the first week being digital downloads. This is a significant jump from last year's installment, FIFA 21, which had 62% of its sales in digital form.
As of December 2021, EA has announced that over 9 million copies of FIFA 22 have been sold worldwide, with more than 460 million matches played. This makes FIFA 22 the most successful FIFA game to date.
Data analytics firm GFK has stated that FIFA 22 was the top-selling game in 17 out of 19 European nations covered within their research. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe followed closely behind, with 16 top-selling countries.
The success of FIFA 22 can be attributed to a number of factors, including the game's improved gameplay, updated visuals, and new features such as HyperMotion Technology. The game has also benefited from the growing popularity of e-sports, with FIFA 22 being one of the most popular games on Twitch and other streaming platforms.
It is clear that FIFA 22 is a major success for EA Sports. The game has shattered sales records and is one of the most popular games in the world. It will be interesting to see if FIFA 23 can continue the success of its predecessor.
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The Game Awards | Best Sports/Racing Game | Nominated |
| 2022 | Guild of Music Supervisors Awards | Best Music Supervision for a Video Game | Winner |
Reviews
FIFA 22 has received generally favorable reviews for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC versions of the game, according to review aggregator Metacritic. However, the Nintendo Switch version was widely panned by critics due to being largely unchanged from its predecessor, FIFA 21.
Bleacher Report praised FIFA 22 as the franchise's best release in years, citing its HyperMotion feature as a major improvement. HyperMotion uses motion capture technology to create more realistic and fluid animations, making for a more immersive gaming experience. Players also react to impacts from strong passes and more agile players are noticeably more flexible and swift.
IGN also gave FIFA 22 a positive review, noting that it takes advantage of the graphical power of new generation consoles with deeper and more immersive visual effects. The review also praised the game's soundtrack, which IGN called one of the most comprehensive in recent years.
Overall, FIFA 22 is a significant improvement over its predecessor and a must-have for fans of the series. However, the Nintendo Switch version is not recommended, as it does not offer the same level of graphical fidelity or gameplay improvements as the other versions of the game.
Criticism
The Norwegian Consumer Council recently released a report that examined the use of loot box mechanics in FIFA 22. The report was highly critical of the system, finding that it is predatory, manipulative, and exceedingly aggressive.
One of the most concerning findings of the report is that it is incredibly difficult to obtain certain players in FIFA 22 without spending real money. For example, the report estimates that the average player would have to purchase 847 Jumbo Rare Player Packs in order to get a Team of the Year Kylian Mbappé promo card. This would cost nearly €13,500.
Even if a player is willing to grind for hours on end, it would still take them over three years to earn enough in-game currency to purchase the average number of packs needed to get a Team of the Year Kylian Mbappé promo card.
The report also found that FIFA 22 uses a variety of manipulative tactics to encourage players to make in-game purchases. These tactics include:
- Limited-time offers: Players are often presented with limited-time offers for loot boxes, which creates a sense of urgency and FOMO.
- Pay-to-win mechanics: Players who make in-game purchases have a significant advantage over players who do not. This can lead to frustration and a feeling that players need to spend money in order to be competitive.
- Psychological tricks: Loot boxes are designed to exploit people's gambling tendencies. The odds of getting a rare player are very low, which creates a sense of excitement and anticipation. However, the vast majority of players will end up spending money on loot boxes without ever getting the player they want.
The Norwegian Consumer Council concluded that the use of loot boxes in FIFA 22 is predatory and exploitative. The report called for stricter regulation of loot boxes in the gaming industry.
Professional tournaments
The FIFA 22 Global Series is a premier online tournament series for FIFA 22 players. Hosted by EA Sports, the tournaments are held exclusively on PlayStation 5 and feature teams of one or two players competing for in-game rewards and cash prizes.
To qualify for the FIFA 22 Global Series, players must compete in their respective regions for high standings in the leaderboard. Alternatively, they can compete in Global Series Opens, which are tournaments that host the highest ranked players in their regions. Winners of Global Series Opens receive cash prizes ranging from $3,500 to $10,000.