Title Update # 6

Title Update #6 is now available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (Origin/Steam) versions of FIFA 21.

In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the gameplay changes around AI teammate blocking, interception logic, and stepover exit speed. Our intent with this TU is to address some of the feedback we’ve received since launching FIFA 21, let’s jump right in.

AI Teammate Block Reach

After closely monitoring and investigating community feedback around blocking, we’ve made the following change:

• Reduced the distance that AI teammates can reach when attempting to block the ball.
  • This change applies only in situations where the ball carrier takes a shot.

This change is intended to reduce AI teammate blocks from influencing matches more often than desired. It’s complementary to the ball trajectory following a block change made in the previous TU, and the combination of both changes is intended to make AI blocks more true-to-life.

Note that this change does not affect CPU controlled players on the opposing team when playing single player matches in game areas such as Career Mode.

Here’s some examples of how far an AI teammate could reach with a block before TU #6.

Now here’s what the exact same blocking situations can look like after TU #6.

Note how the AI teammate’s leg is not reaching the same distance as before. With this change, AI teammates will not attempt to make as many inauthentic blocks when the ball is passing by them, following a shot.

We’ll continue to monitor community feedback regarding blocking in general.

Interception Logic

In order to improve the effectiveness of some interceptions, TU #6 introduces the following change:

• Improved interception logic in situations where the defending player is directly in the ball’s path.
  • This change applies only in situations where the ball carrier is passing the ball.

In our investigations of community feedback around interceptions, we have seen that passes could bypass a defender too easily in some situations. The change we’ve made here is meant to help user controlled players and AI teammates intercept the ball in clear cut interception scenarios, during which the defender is clearly standing in the expected path of the pass.

This change does not alter how players position themselves or how they think about interceptions in general, it specifically affects the aforementioned scenario. We’ll continue to review and investigate community feedback regarding interceptions.

Here’s how interceptions could have looked like before TU #6.

With TU #6, here are the exact same interception scenarios.

Note how the player is able to intercept and take control of the ball since they were clearly positioned in its path.

Stepover Transition Speed

In order to improve the authenticity of stepovers, the following change has been made:

• Decreased player transition speed into a stepover after the Skill Move was successfully requested.

When we refer to transition speed here, we’re talking about the ball carrier’s movement speed when they transition into a stepover animation. With this change, our aim is to ensure that players don’t move with the ball using unnecessary and inauthentic speed when performing stepovers.

In general, the transition speed here is half of what it previously was. With this change, we want to promote stepovers being used in a more similar fashion to their real-world counterparts.

We’ll continue to monitor community feedback around Skill Moves in general. Please note that an incorrect description of this change was initially published in the original Title Update notes and that it has since been updated to the one you see in this article.
 

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Thanks for reading this Pitch Notes, and we hope that the additional context here gives you more insight into Title Update #6. As always, we’ll continue to publish Pitch Notes articles on Tittles Updates on a case by case basis, usually whenever we’re able to take deeper looks into changes. We appreciate your passion and look forward to seeing more of your feedback and thoughts regarding FIFA 21.

Goran Popovic (PFO) and the Gameplay Team

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For more deep dives on FIFA from members of the game team, check out the Pitch Notes Page.

Please Note: This article is describing in general terms what the Dev Teams are working on. We are constantly looking to improve the FIFA experience for everyone, so this article may become outdated as we make adjustments to keep our game fun for everyone.

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