While it’s always exciting to hear about how they plan to improve and expand upon their successful series, nothing can beat getting to dive in and just play. I was able to experience the new Rush mode as well as see how things have changed in Champion’s League matches, and once again, it feels like those little changes are making the beautiful game even more entrancing.

EA Sports FC 25 is changing the way tactics are changed at the start of matches, but also altered on the fly during matches. Playing as Real Madrid against Liverpool, I was able to witness first-hand how player roles impact the match. The AI for teammates is exceptional, especially when they’re off the ball. Watching Jude Bellingham slip in behind Rodrygo as a shadow striker allowed me to press higher and find easier passes as I approached the final third of the pitch.

Vinicius Jr played out wide and gave me options to play the ball to him without having to do the work myself, leading to a fluid approach to tactics and making options on the pitch more varied. I’m not one of those players who spends hours tweaking every viable option in the tactics menu, but these changes make it more accessible for people like me. I can’t wait to jump into a career when it releases in September because I feel this year I’ll be making the most of tactics thanks to FC IQ and player roles feeling impactful.

Passing feels more authentic, leaving me to really think about where I was playing the ball due to accuracy mistakes. While you have more control on the ball, clearing the ball in tense situations can go wrong if you don’t take your time. On the flip side of this, precise passes are so much more satisfying, and when you’re breaking on the counter, it looks like a dream. Again, with Real Madrid, I made plays and scored goals that felt differently to anything I did in last year’s game.