FUT has been one of EA Sports’ biggest engagement drivers for the best part of a decade. While it has not come without controversy over how purchases work, there is no denying that it has opened up a whole new stream of revenue for the premium football game. However, when it comes to each player’s ratings, is it an exact science, or are other factors at play that shape the overall rating system?
Breaking Down The Odds & Probability
Some have drawn comparisons with betting markets and opening packs, as they cost cash and involve several different levels of probability. For instance, there’s about a 1-in-3 chance of opening a pack with a player rated 90 or higher. It’s a more or less identical set of odds as betting on the first, second, or third dozen on a game of roulette.
A growing similarity has emerged between casino games and online console gaming, particularly since the beginning of this decade. As these markets begin to share more factors in common, brands like Joe Fortune Casino have taken the onus. They’ve used the growing demand for digital payment solutions, the dominance of online gaming, and blockchain to offer crypto gambling games to a more contemporary market.
Initially, the power of the online gaming community was a route that FUT first explored with great aplomb. By setting this precedent, it opened the door for a raft of other gaming sectors to explore and expand their reach.
Of course, there are a plethora of other factors to weigh up here, but opening up a pack with a superstar in, and the anticipation that emerges, does mirror some of the anticipation we see in certain casino games. That is not to say they are identical, but it would be naive to ignore the similarities, and it is important to only use money you can afford to lose when playing FUT, just as is the case with online casino gaming.
Is It Influenced By Online Engagement?
Some believe that football politics plays a significant role in the ratings of certain players, especially those rated much higher than people believe they should be.
Some of the recent controversies have included Lamine Yamal going up 8 rating points to 89 overall, and Harry Kane dropping, despite having one of the best starts to a season he has ever had, notching up 13 goals in 10 games, starting the UCL in blistering form, and being linked to a big-money move back to England to Manchester United.
To play devil’s advocate, some might say Kane is playing in an inferior league, and aside from the PSG win and Chelsea, they have played teams that are levels below them. In any event, he is still finding the back of the net, and while some have scolded EA Sports for this approach, with many believing it is down to Kane’s age, the one thing it does do is get people talking on social media. Again, it’d be naive to think there wasn’t some engagement generation going on here.
Does The System Reward Form?
Let’s face it, more often than not, the ratings for FUT have mostly been fair. Yes, the subjectivity of football often means people moan about why their favourite player has been unfairly treated, but with many international markets and customers to contend with, it is a balancing act, and EA Sports are not always going to get it right.
The 24/7 cycle of global news means EA Sports has to invest significant resources and cash to ensure FUT is as balanced as possible. It doesn’t matter whether it is a sports fan in Europe or one Down Under in Australia; the internet is the primary source of news. Again, those who pull the strings behind the FUT ratings ensure they scour the web and conduct extensive research before settling on their final ratings.
Although players like Mbappe are among the most sought-after and have appeared on the game’s cover more than once, they are likely more favourable options when rating these players, regardless of their current form. So, while form is essential, it is not the whole equation in the world of FUT.
Keeping It Fresh Moving Forward
With AI and other technologies playing an increasingly vital role in how we play FUT, it’s likely to be more algorithmically driven than engagement-driven. While this might not be the case for FC 26, we’d expect to see it unfold before the end of this decade.
Again, though, this algorithm will remain a tightly guarded secret at EA Sports HQ. As long as FUT continues to generate huge revenue, there will be a consistent effort to ensure the experience remains unpredictable and captivating as it has been over the last decade and a half.