Hypermotion V, PlayStyles and Frostbite: these are the three pillars on which EA Sports FC 24, the new football game from Electronic Arts coming next September, is built. After bidding farewell to the international federation with FIFA 23, the American software house returns to the scene with a proposal to combine what the community loves with new features.
The logo symbolizes a new beginning, a triangle enclosing the three pillars of EA Sports FC 24: Hypermotion V, PlayStyles and Frostbite. In the first case, we are discussing improving the motion capture technology debuting in FIFA 22. Sam Rivera, senior producer at EA, spoke of “volumetric captures that recreate authentic sensations”.
This was also achieved by combining it with artificial intelligence “to make players move exactly as they do in real life. How they move their shoulders and run is all very realistic”. This time, the captures to replicate the movements were made in actual matches, such as the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan. All this translates into more polished animations, replicating the movements of footballers and players. Even the most peculiar ones, such as the feats of Erling Haaland, the face of EA Sports FC 24.
FC 24: Virtual football, real passion
And it is here that we come to the PlayStyles, which represent the absolute novelty of the Electronic Arts title. We are talking about 34 skills that allow you to stand out on the pitch—dribbling, headers, stopping the ball, and defensive talents such as intercepting and blocking. When active, these talents improve the performance of the individual player.
Only the strongest players, however, will be able to get to the PlayStyles+, enhancements that transform skills from unique to spectacular and provide styles of play that give a considerable boost during matches. An addition that on paper should guarantee a great variety of play, customizable and increasingly focused on realism. “Messi will always be more Messi, Mbappé will always be more Mbappé,” Rivera said. Not all players will have the PlayStyles at their disposal, but the best ones can rely on their peculiarities for a faithful characterization that gives more depth to the gameplay. Other new features kept in the can by EA include AcceleRATE 2.0. They refine acceleration and speed capabilities based on the class to which a player belongs.
The Road to September
Finally, Frostbite, the game’s graphics engine. Uniforms now fit more realistically and follow body movements, thanks to Gpu Cloth. It also happens to see parts of the field mowed down by a slide. Added to all this are remarkable technologies based on artificial intelligence – from AI True Flight Ball Physics for the ball animations to AI Hands for the hands . For an overall effect that is as realistic as possible. Faces, movements, and bodies appear sharper, smoother, and more accurate for a satisfying overall impact.
On the pitch, at least, because despite the apparent improvements in the stands, a certain unevenness between players, spectators, and interviewers is evident. The latter has yet to be mentioned, because EA Sports FC 24 focuses more on what happens outside the green rectangle. With MatchDays and Dynamic Match Intros, we’ll see scenes with interviews, fans, and staff in the stands, providing a more authentic football atmosphere.
With EA Sports FC, Electronic Arts aims to offer an increasingly realist experience that celebrates football as a worldwide phenomenon. This is evident in the technologies employed and the new features that make it more polished, deeper, and layered in terms of visuals and playability. EA Sports FC 24 will be available on 29 September 2023 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and also on Nintendo Switch.
