FIFA 21: Release date, features and more to look forward to

FIFA 21 is official. EA has announced that it will be supporting Google Stadia for the first time too. This means it will be released for PS4, Xbox One, PC via Steam and Origin, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

EA Sports has recently confirmed that PSG’s French start Kylian Mbappe will be the cover star for FIFA 21.

FIFA 21 DUAL ENTITLEMENT

The game will also be part of EA’s new Dual Entitlement incentive. This allows PS4 and Xbox One owners to purchase the game and upgrade them to their respective next-gen versions at a later date for free.

The only condition is that if you buy the physical disc copy for PS4 you will not be able to upgrade it on a PS5 Digital Edition console without a drive. You will need to have the digital download version.

FIFA 21 RELEASE DATE

FIFA 21 will be available for PS4, Xbox One, PC and Switch on 9 October 2020.

Members of EA Access or Origin Access Basic will be able to try the game on 1 October, while Origin Access Premier subscribers will get the full game.

The Google Stadia version will be available from winter. The release date for the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions is yet to be announced.

FIFA 21 FEATURES

GAMEPLAY TWEAKS AND FASTER LOAD TIMES

Gameplay is getting a little bit of a shakeup. You will have access to more dribbling modes, skill moves as well as being able to directly take control of the supporting runs of your teammates.

Both next-gen consoles have SSD storage and faster loading abilities. EA Sports has promised “blazing load times” to get to “kick off in seconds”.

CONTROLLER HAPTICS ON PS5

The game will utilise the new haptic feedback talents of the PS5 DualSense controller, although only time will tell exactly what this feels like for players.

GREATER GRAPHICAL POWER AND DEFERRED LIGHTING

Both of the new consoles have ray tracing enabled graphics chips which give developers the ability to produce much more realistic lighting effects and shading.

Greater graphical power equals greater detail in the player models so you should notice more accuracy than ever before on that front.

ENHANCED ANIMATION TECHNOLOGY

The animation engine has been reworked to give players even more responsiveness and realism. Blocking, tackling and collisions have all been redone to offer more variety and responsiveness.

REALISTIC GAMEPLAY

The reactions of the players, bench and fans will be more realistic adding extra realism to the game. Players will be more emotive when they don’t have the ball. They will, for example, scream for passes or adjust their shin pads.

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