Our Latest Tech Innovations Across EA SPORTS

At EA SPORTS, tech innovation is not only a part of our culture, it’s what fuels our games and ensures that our hundreds of millions of fans have the best experiences possible. That’s why we continue to develop and introduce cutting-edge technologies that transform the way our players connect with our games and the sports they love. 

Coming off of our biggest launch season yet, we’re looking back at the biggest tech advancements across our franchises – from visuals to gameplay, to fostering community – and the impact they've made for sports fans worldwide. Keep reading to learn more!

ENHANCING VISUAL REALISM

SAPIEN technology makes our characters look more human than ever before.

EA SPORTS UFC 5 saw major graphics updates, including enhanced player likeness.

Our commitment to realism across our franchises has delivered some of the most authentic, detailed visuals that deeply immerse players into our games.

Examples of our recent advancements include:

• The debut of SAPIEN Technology and gameplay enhancements in EA SPORTS Madden NFL 24, which delivered a leap forward in NFL realism by rebuilding the character skeleton to provide increased definition and variation of physiques on the field. In EA SPORTS FC™ 24, SAPIEN transformed the way both women and men characters look and move with realistically redesigned and anatomically precise player models, down to the smallest detail. Paul McComas, VP Head of Animation, EA SPORTS Tech mentions that “SAPIEN has brought unprecedented scientific detail to players’ skeletons, created smoother animations, and achieved more fluid and true-to-life motions – making characters look and feel more human and anatomically correct than ever before.”
• EA SPORTS FC 24, powered by Frostbite, which produced lifelike detail and brought a new level of immersion to each match – making it feel even more realistic. Frostbite’s new GPU, a compute shader-based cloth simulator shipped with EA SPORTS FC 24, was also used for the simulation of footballers’ jerseys and shorts. The drastically increased cloth mesh density and realistic collisions with character bodies provided improved authenticity, while retaining excellent performance.
• EA SPORTS™ UFC® 5’s franchise debut on Frostbite, ushering in a new era of realism and fighter intensity and bringing the action of the Octagon to life with high-speed 60 frames-per-second performance, features like Cinematic K.O. replays, and unrivaled graphics upgrades – from dynamic lighting to meticulously detailed fighter likenesses.
• A complete presentation overhaul in EA SPORTS Super Mega Baseball 4, including character models, lighting, audio, and animations – resulting in authentic and immersive visuals and making the game look and sound better than ever.
• Mapping out and building all of the unique details of each of the EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR™'s 30 courses – from the vegetation, to the slopes and terrain – using LiDAR data captured by helicopter or drone. Our team then designed a custom physics profile for each course using a combination of archival video footage, data from ShotLink® powered by CDW, and in-depth interviews from course superintendents. All this data helped deliver the most accurate course depictions and authentically stunning visuals in-game.

DIALING UP AUTHENTIC GAMEPLAY

HyperMotionV Technology makes EA SPORTS FC 24 feel even more realistic.

Gameplay was made even more fluid with EA SPORTS Madden NFL 24’s FieldSENSE.

Our gameplay mechanics deliver exceptional authenticity within our titles and continue to create immersive experiences for sports fans.

We’ve made strides in this area through:

• EA SPORTS FC 24’s HyperMotionV technology (available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC versions), which translates the rhythm and fluidity of real-world football into The World’s Game using volumetric data of more than 180 top-tier matches from competitions like the UEFA Men’s and Women’s Champions League, Premier League and LaLiga EA SPORTS – and has driven the biggest leap forward in gameplay authenticity and realism to date. Additionally, the game’s PlayStyles feature, optimized by Opta, dimensionalizes athletes by going beyond overall ratings to bring to life the on-pitch abilities that make players special – giving them unique capabilities that make their way of playing more authentic.
• The next evolution of FieldSENSE™ in EA SPORTS Madden NFL 24 (for PS5®, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), delivering a more realistic gameplay experience with increased control in throwing, catching, and tackling, as well as smoother and more authentic athletic motion overall.
• EA SPORTS NHL 24’s brand-new Exhaust Engine, powered by Frostbite, which introduced the Sustained Pressure and Goalie Fatigue systems to the franchise – giving players the concentrated moments of intensity that hockey is known for, dialing up the pressure, physicality, and control of authentic on-ice action, and adding a dynamic new layer of authenticity and excitement to the game.
• Several new EA SPORTS UFC 5 gameplay features, including The Real Impact System, Seamless Submissions, Doctor’s Checks and Stoppages, and more, bringing faster animations and authentic strategic challenges for players under increased pressure.
• The launch of EA SPORTS WRC, which creates immersive, euphoric moments as players battle the elements across dirt, snow, and asphalt in their pursuit of the perfect run. The power of the Unreal Engine delivers longer, more detailed stages than previously possible, and the Dynamic Handling System can be tailored to match players’ skill level and put to the test on surface degradation – giving players the most realistic off-road experience to date.
• Several updates and enhancements to EA SPORTS F1® 24 (launching worldwide May 31), like the game’s new Dynamic Handling, which, by working closely with current World Champion and our Champions Edition cover star Max Verstappen, produces realistic and predictable performance and completely redefines the feel of the car. EA SPORTS F1 24 also includes new suspension kinematics, an upgraded tire model, advanced aerodynamic simulation, and new engine and car setup options, which all help to elevate the driving experience and dial up the game’s realism.

Our robust approach to Live Services also plays a crucial role in driving innovation across our franchises. Just over the past couple of months, we’ve given players the opportunity to use select 2024 Formula 1® liveries in EA SPORTS F1®23, updated EA SPORTS PGA TOUR courses to include 2024 Championship venues, and will achieve 98% parity with the current UFC Top 10 Athlete Rankings by the end of June following our most substantial post-launch roster expansion in EA SPORTS UFC history. Through these updates and more, we continue to deliver relevant and timely content that make our games feel as authentic as possible for our players and accurately reflect what’s happening in the real world of sports.

CREATIVITY, COMMUNITY & CONNECTION

EA SPORTS WRC’s Builder mode allows players to fully customize their rally car.

Players can create their own golfer in EA SPORTS PGA TOUR.

As we’ve evolved, our players and the ways they interact with our games have evolved as well. Our EA SPORTS games have some of the biggest and most loyal fanbases in sports, and we are always creating new ways for them to express their creativity, feel a part of our franchise communities, and connect with friends and fellow players around their love of sports.

Over the past year, we’ve continued to incorporate community-requested features; created networks to enhance multi-player and cross-play capabilities across different platforms and modes; introduced new ways for players to customize their cars, uniforms, venues, characters, and teams; and provided opportunities for them to carve their own path and build a legacy with franchise Career Modes – all with the goal of bringing people together through the power of sports.

Players can connect with friends in various EA SPORTS NHL 24 modes through cross-play.

There is so much to be excited for this year and beyond, as we deliver the most authentic experiences for our players, powered by our leading technologies. From continued priorities to new initiatives, we see endless opportunities to continue advancing and evolving our capabilities to lead the future of sports fandom – at the intersection of sport, culture, and innovation.

Get in the game with our teams driving tech innovation across our organization to bring fans closer to the sports they love. Explore open roles