EA FC 25 is about to get a major new update on PS5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.
Unlike the usual array of bug fixes and small tweaks, the new EA Sports FC 25 update will make significant changes to the entire game.
The Gameplay Refresh Update has a January 16 release date and is expected to have a 3pm GMT UK launch time. Daily Express has contacted Electronic Arts for an exact time.
As you can see from the patch notes below, EA Sports will make changes to core gameplay systems like passing, shooting, goalkeeping, and defending.
This includes an emphasis on moving the ball around with more fluidity, fewer AI interceptions, and an update on Rush Club Search in Football Ultimate Team.
Top of the list is how defenders are catching up to ball carriers too quickly, even if the ball carrier has far superior pace attributes.
“In practice, this means that it will now be harder for slower defenders to catch up to faster attackers in FC 25,” EA explains.
Elsewhere, EA Sports will improve attacking support from teammates, meaning that other players will be more active (like running into space) when you’re pressing forward.
EA Sports will also reduce TackleBacks, which is when you lose the ball immediately after tacking. While this is something that can happen in real life, EA admits that it happens far too often in the current game.
Goalkeepers will also do a better job of defending the near post, while passing will be faster and more accurate.
Finally, EA Sports will make it easier to search for players in Rush, which you can read about in the patch notes below.
Gameplay Refresh Update patch notes…
• Defenders Catching Up To Fast Ball Carriers Too Easily
• More Fluid Offensive Positioning And Better Attacking Support
– Improved AI teammate attacking run quality when trying to beat the offside line.
– Increased intelligence of attacking and supporting runs made by AI teammates.
– Improved effectiveness of Inside and Advance Forwards.
– Offensive players can now operate in attacking spaces near other attackers instead of stopping their runs.
– Players are now able to provide quicker support when they are familiar with their Role.
• Reducing Tacklebacks (Losing The Ball After Your Tackle)
– Defenders with the Anticipate PlayStyle are now more likely to tackle the ball towards a teammate with more space if stopping the ball in place would be disadvantageous.
– Improved the quality of touches defenders can make on tackles.
• Improved Goalkeepers For Near Post Shots
– Goalkeepers could have sometimes incorrectly stepped away from the near post in tight angle shooting situations.
• Faster Passing, Balance Changes, And Issues Addressed
– Slightly increased speed of normal Ground Passes.
– Slightly increased accuracy of short Ground Passes to open players.
– Significantly increased effectiveness of Semi Assisted Through Passes.
– Significantly reduced effectiveness of first-time Lofted Through Passes.
– Significantly increased effectiveness of Semi Assisted Through Passes.
– Moderately reduced accuracy of headed passes in contested situations.
– Low powered Ground Passes were sometimes being delivered to farther players than intended.
– Medium powered passes sometimes focused too much on the player’s aim input instead of the amount of power generated.
– Addressed some instances where first time passes were less responsive than intended when the input was performed late.
– Sometimes, free kick passes were not hit towards the intended receiver if the receiver was moving too quickly.
• More Effective Shooting Inside The Box
– Increased accuracy and shot speed from inside the box for regular and Finesse shots.
– Slightly increased accuracy of low difficulty regular and Finesse shots in the box.
• Defensive Positioning And Behaviour
– In Competitive Football Ultimate Team and Online Seasons ruleset matches, AI defenders will mark dribblers less tightly and will be less likely to cover shooting lanes near the edge of the box.
– Further decreased how often AI players are able to make successful interceptions.
• Updated Rush Club Search In Football Ultimate Team
– Following a near future Server Release, you’ll be able to search for Player Items simply by selecting the current Rush Point Bonus requirement. For example, if there is a minimum 75 DEF requirement, selecting that will give you 5 search results with applicable Player Items.