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7 ways FIFA 19 will change the game forever
We can’t wait for the latest instalment in the football franchise, and here are the changes we think could make it the best FIFA yet.
It’s that time of year again. The time when, let’s be honest, we’ve eased off on our nightly FIFA sessions; our Ultimate Team has become as 'ultimate' as it really ever will, and we’re even calming down on selling players for big money, too. We’re starting to keep one eye on the calendar, because E3 2018 will be a big one, as that’s usually when EA reveal the first details on the latest FIFA.
We can’t wait. Autumn 2018 can’t come soon enough (assuming EA release the new game when they usually do) so we can get our mitts on the game and see what’s changed, and start our new Ultimate Team, Career Mode, and perhaps, a third episode of Alex Hunter’s Journey.
Until then though, we’ve had some thoughts on what we’re hoping EA might do to make FIFA 19 the greatest football game ever, and here are our seven ways that they could do it:
1. Bring FIFA Street back, and put it in the main game
2. Multiplayer career mode needs to happen
This one has been on our list for a very long time, and EA is starting to address career mode, but slowly. Cut-scenes that started, thanks to The Journey, have made their way into the transfer dealings in career mode, but they were a bit stiff and need some work. Moreover, we have been desperate for a multiplayer co-op mode for years. Chatting with our friends as manager and assistant manager, or perhaps having one of us as the coach and handling training, while the other buys and sells players, could add a whole new dimension for FIFA’s long-standing, brilliant career mode.
3. More Ultimate Team modes
Last year’s game genuinely improved Ultimate Team and it wasn’t a case of small changes. Instead, we got a full-on update that let the solo player gain rewards and enjoy the game without venturing into the world of online gaming. Now, however, we want more. EA have shown they're listening to those of us who prefer to play this way, and we hope it continues. More single player game types within FUT, would be incredible. While you’re at it, how about proper tournaments for us to play with our Ultimate Teams together? Not random online games, but testing our skills with FUT against our friends. More rewards, more special cards, just more – FUT can continue to evolve, and there’s plenty of room for innovation yet.
4. Give us the coolest VR experience ever
While many games have added VR later (WipeOut HD Collection just did this), we’ve yet to see a truly brilliant football VR experience. Headmaster was a cool launch title for PSVR, and VRFC was released recently and tried to capture the act of playing football, which is all but impossible. However, what about football management? What if PSVR could give us a manager’s eye view of our career mode, standing on the sidelines, using the in-line mic for the headset, borrowing technology EA used in past FIFA games for the PS camera and Xbox Kinect. Shouting at our players, or the ref, and then physically getting sent to the stands and having to watch matches from there. Just think how amazing this could all look, especially with the power of the PS4 Pro and PSVR combined. It’s baffling EA haven’t added any VR to FIFA yet, but fingers crossed this is the year.
5. Bring back card trading in Ultimate Team
This may be a contentious one, but how often have you 'won' a card and been unable to sell it at all, but thought 'hey, I could trade with my pals'. It’s not without reason that card trading was removed by EA, as it was the biggest and easiest method for coin selling to take place. That said, it would be so cool to be able to trade with your friends. We’re not saying we’ve got all the answers, but it’d be great if EA could figure out a secure way to get this back into the game: maybe some form of two-factor authentication? Regardless, with Ultimate Team being the biggest mode in the game (or any game, for that matter) it’s a shame that something we used to be able to do in an innocent way was ruined by nefarious types.
6. Keep trying to raise the bar with visuals and gameplay
This may sound obvious, and before you say 'of course it’ll look better than last year', we’re actually talking more about the wrapper surrounding the game. We don’t have to worry, because the faces will be improved, as will the stadiums, but we want the animation to be improved. There are still a few too many collisions which look unnatural for our liking, and fixing this would help immersion hugely. On top of that, the menus for FIFA 18 were looking a little dated, with a lot of unused space. We’re hoping EA give some of these smaller details a touch of fresh paint and make FIFA 19 not only play the best, but look and sound the best, too.
