FIFA 21 promises to be the best edition yet, with the iconic title expected to be available on both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X when they arrive on the scene.
With FIFA 20 pushing the technology boundaries beyond what was possible on the latest consoles, the new version certainly has scope for improvement.
Read on as we take a closer look at what FIFA fans can expect from a game that is now firmly established as a household name.
When will FIFA 21 be released?
Uncertainty over when the real-life 2019/20 season has led to a surge in popularity with no live football to watch and fans simulating their own end-of-season scenarios. You can click here to see what the bookies are offering for potential Champions League winners, although bookmakers have also had to adjust for lack of playing time and the long mid-season gap will affect players.
Coming back to FIFA 21, it’s worth noting that EA Sports have released the game on the final Friday in September for the past three years, and while they may push the game back a week or two, it’s likely that it will come before the next-generation consoles, allowing EA to promote FIFA 21 as a PS 5 game over the holiday season as well (similar to how FIFA was marketed around the time the PS 4 launched).
Whatever date they eventually settle on, a demo version of the game will be made available around two to three weeks before the official launch.
Who will be the cover star?
Eden Hazard replaced Cristiano Ronaldo on the cover of FIFA 20, but his poor form for Real Madrid means he is unlikely to be asked to feature again this year.
With EA rivals Konami having link-ups with both Juventus and Barcelona, neither Ronaldo or Lionel Messi are expected to be in the running.
Having starred in the Premier League with Liverpool over the past few seasons, it is feasible that Mohamed Salah could come into contention for the prestigious gig.
However, Kylian Mbappe appeals as the most likely candidate given his stellar performances for both Paris Saint-Germain and France.
Will VOLTA be included again?
EA recreated the magic of the brilliant ‘FIFA Street’ by introducing the impressive ‘VOLTA’ mode to FIFA 20.
The feature allows users to take any of the licensed teams in the game and drop them into some unexpected environments.
From three-on-three to professional futsal and more, VOLTA proved to be a massive hit with FIFA players across the world.
It would be a huge surprise if EA failed to capitalize on this and an expanded VOLTA feature is fully expected to be included in FIFA 21.
Will the faults be ironed out?
As with any new release, there are always elements of the game that end up proving hugely frustrating to people.
FIFA 20 was no different in that respect, with sketchy corner taking and inaccurate heading amongst the main bugbears.
Scoring from penalties and free-kicks also proved difficult to fathom, taking away some of the enjoyment of playing the game.
With the added performance capabilities of the next-gen consoles to work with, expect EA to have these issues ironed out in FIFA 21.
What about the gameplay experience?
Perhaps the most exciting development for FIFA 21 is the unveiling of Unreal Engine 5, which will greatly enhance the overall gameplay experience.
8K supported graphics, boosted memory and improved visual effects should all help FIFA 21 stand out from the crowd.
A specialized SSD will help with the rendering of the game, further helping to increase playing performance.
With the new consoles expected to negate lag, the latest edition of the FIFA series looks primed to enjoy positive reviews when it is released later this year.