Playing FIFA online was one of the first significant inroads we saw in the world of online gaming. There was a time when a FIFA tournament would consist of getting a group of friends together and having a winner stay on format. There were professional competitions that existed, but they lacked the structure, prize pool, and global popularity that they have today.
A lot of this popularity has stemmed from the interconnectivity of the internet and the way it has brought international gaming communities together. It’s an approach that has been successful across various sectors over the past two decades. We’ve seen it in home video console gaming, but we’ve also seen it in other sectors, such as casino games like poker, and in every other type of industry that falls within this range.
Learning From Other Industries
Despite the initial scepticism about online poker, it quickly became one of the fastest-growing areas of the gambling industry. It has continued to innovate and embrace new ideas, which have helped keep the concept alive and fresh.
The most recent of these innovations has been the adoption of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Ignition Poker utilises the innovations of blockchain and cryptocurrency to attract new customers, while also offering more conventional payment options for those who prefer traditional methods.
The success of any industry, especially online, hinges on its ability to adapt to changes in consumer demand. We’ve seen it with the rise of crypto poker sites and the way the industry has more broadly ushered in social media as the primary route to attract new customers. As you can see below, this approach involves walkthrough guides, live game graphics, and leveraging social media as a free learning resource.
Although FC 26 is set to be another success story for EA Sports, the monopoly they now have over football games in general has created a level of predictability and complacency from those who create the game, which is why looking to the future and embracing consumer demand is often the best course of action, so that companies do not lose their market share.
The Battle For Online Supremacy
The format of FC online has not changed for a decade and a half. You play ten games, and if you get anywhere between 12 and 21 points, depending on the league, then you will either get promoted or win the league if you’re in League One. It’s not a difficult concept to follow, and except for the cup games that take place intermittently, this is the main way to face off against somebody else online.
However, over the years, the game has been plagued by a number of issues. If you were to listen to the mainstream reviews, you’d be met with a decent fanfare of someone who has probably glossed over a couple of games, maybe had a brief look at the season mode, somebody who probably hasn’t played countless hours of the game, for better or worse, like I have. A change to this format could keep it fresher.
Ironing Out The Niggling Issues With FC 25
There are several issues that FC 26 could address, including cheating, which is a particular concern in PC gaming. This issue has garnered significant attention within the community and among gaming influencers.
The smaller gameplay issues that often arise include the inability to turn off replays, the inability to quit instantly, and the frustration of being matched against the same team repeatedly. Some gamers might not mind this, but those who do have no option to change this setting in the current format.
Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) was the main competitor that used to keep EA Sports on its toes in the late 2000s, but following its capitulation at the end of the last decade, football gaming is now a barren wasteland, and EA Sports has one of the most dominant market shares in any gaming sector.
They’re essentially competing against themselves, as they have been for the last 4 years, and it’s resulted in them churning out the exact same game with slightly better graphics each time.
What To Expect From FC 26
Honestly? More of the same. AI is encroaching on every area of football. While it has been a part of the gaming world since its inception, recent advances could make AI awareness a more influential factor, especially when it comes to referee decisions. Still, it’s likely going to play more of a role in the offline career mode.
When a game has healthy competition, the developers and marketers are on their toes. EA Sports has reached a point of such dominance that they could release FC 25 with a new player on the front, market it as FC 26, and it would still sell millions of copies.
However, if they do make some of these small changes to their online format, it would undoubtedly help bring a few more people online. But when you control the market, is there really that much of an incentive to change it?