EAFC 25: Everything you need to know about the new game

three football players celebrateImage source, EA Sports

Football fans get ready because one of the biggest video games of the year is about to drop.

That's right, EAFC 25 - previously known as Fifa - is about to release worldwide.

EAFC 24 was the best-selling video game in the UK last year, selling around 2.25m copies.

This year England's Jude Bellingham takes centre stage as the cover star, and a track list of more than 100 songs for the official soundtrack has been revealed.

But who are the best players, when is the game out, and what is the companion app? We've got the answers to all that and more, below.

What is the EA FC 25 release date?

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EAFC 25 will be released worldwide on 27 September 2024.

However, for fans who paid extra for the Ultimate Edition, they get early access to the game on 20 September 2024.

The game is playable on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

What music is on the EAFC 25 soundtrack?

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Image caption,

Billie Eilish is one of the singers on the new soundtrack

Since 1997 the Fifa/EA FC football games have always had a soundtrack to go alongside the game.

The playlist is an iconic and celebrated part of the game, as it shines a light on popular and less well-known artists.

This year the soundtrack features 117 songs from artists from 27 different countries, and features musical genres like rock, pop, reggaeton, aftrobeats, rap and funk.

Artists like Billie Eilish, Glass Animals and Coldplay are on the list, as well as Nia Archives, Kasabian, FKA Twigs, Charli xcx and Jack White.

Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive and President of Music for Electronic Arts says the soundtrack is a "global celebration of new music" with "several surprises".

What are the EAFC 25 player ratings?

This year the top three male players with the highest rating in EAFC 25 are Kylian Mbappé and Man City's Erling Haaland and Rodri, who all have a rating of 91.

England stars, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich's Harry Kane both have a high rating of 90, with Liverpool's Mo Salah on 89 and fellow Premier League forwards, Tottenham's Son Heung-min and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka on a rating of 87.

Seventeen-year-old Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal will be included in the line-up this year, but EA hasn't revealed it's full ratings list just yet - including Yamal's.

The top women's EAFC 25 ratings are dominated by Barcelona stars :

  • Aitana Bonmati - Barcelona - 91

  • Alexia Putellas - Barcelona - 90

  • Sam Kerr - Chelsea - 90

  • Caroline Graham Hansen - Barcelona - 90

Lyon's Ada Hegerberg gets a rating of 89, and Arsenal’s Beth Mead and Chelsea's Guro Reiten share a rating of 88.

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Image caption,

Haaland has made it to the top this year

What does the FC25 Companion App do?

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The EA FC 25 game will also be accompanied by a web app and a companion (or mobile) app.

The apps let players access their club in Ultimate Team before the main game is released.

Players can then manage their teams ahead of the main game's launch, and even customise their stadiums.

What are some of the new features in EA FC 25?

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There are a handful of new features coming to the EAFC 25 game, including Rush mode.

Rush is a new fast-paced 5v5 mode, and replacement to Volta.

In Rush, matches are seven minutes long with no half-time, and each game begins with a race to the ball to get first possession.

EAFC 25: New Career Mode features

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This year's EA FC 25 Career Mode sees the introduction of Live Start Points. These allow you to pick up managing or playing as teams at the point where they have been impacted by real world events, such as poor form, injuries, a relegation battle or manager sacking.

Also, for the first time ever, players now have the option to manage in five of the top leagues in women's football.

And legends of the past, such as David Beckham can be added to teams to play alongside the football stars of today.

Historically, one of the main criticisms of the Fifa and EAFC games - which are updated and released each year, at full price - is that not much changes in gameplay and graphics between versions.

So, is there enough about the new game to get you excited? Let us know in the comments.

Image source, EA Sports