The Pitch Notes
EA SPORTS FC™ 24 | Pitch Notes - Career Deep Dive
Shape your club as a manager, or choose exactly how you play on the pitch as a player through the new EA SPORTS FC™ 24 Career Experience
From defining the philosophy of your club as a manager, to choosing exactly how you play on the pitch as a player, with EA SPORTS FC™ 24 we’re giving you more control over creating your own football stories through our Career Experiences.
This year we’re splitting the Manager Career and Player Career into separate experiences. There are lots of new and exciting elements to discover within each mode, and we're excited to share details for both below.
In Manager Career we're introducing a Total Management System that brings together two new elements - Tactical Visions and Coaches. Alongside that, we’ve focussed on Match Preparation, all these combine with the goal of enabling you to manage your club exactly how you want to. We’re also keen to celebrate your success with a range of new dynamic moments that include Open Top Bus Parades and Awards Events. So let's jump right in and get into all the details.
Please note that video and screenshots within this article have been captured from an early EA SPORTS FC™ 24 build, and may not reflect current lineups, positions, shirt numbers etc.
Pre-match Preparations
Preparing your team to face the opposition is an integral part of football, regardless of the quality of the teams involved. That’s why we have redesigned the matchday experience to better reflect the decision-making and specifically, the in-depth prep work that takes place in top-flight real-world football. The new Matchday Hub encompasses the pre-match report, dedicated training sessions, and press conferences, all contributing to how you can best overcome your next opponent.
Pre-match reports
Every season brings you face to face with teams using different systems, formations, and posing different kinds of threats to your game plan. With pre-match reports, we’re giving you key insights regarding how your opponent is likely to play. Information is provided on both the opposing team as a whole, and specific threats, to empower you to decide on the best approach. This includes:
- Probable Line-up - the opponent’s predicted formation, factoring in match availability, details on the opponent’s Tactical Vision, including a description of their offensive and defensive styles.
- Opposing team’s form over the last 5 matches and competition standing.
- Opponent Threats, split in Key Attacking and Key Defensive Players. These are opposition players that you should generally be on the lookout for and may need special attention.
Match Ready Training
Now that you are equipped with more knowledge about your next opponent, we can discuss the last details of your team preparation. The Match Ready Training sessions consist of one-off drills that allow you to focus your team’s attention on a specific area of the game, in order to unlock temporary PlayStyles for your players. The temporary PlayStyles, received as rewards, will depend on the chosen drill and the positions of the players in the drill. Only players that are in the drill are eligible for the temporary PlayStyles.
For instance, let’s say you hope to aerially dominate your next opponent in their box. Successfully completing the Game Crossing Scenarios drill will equip your Strikers with a Power Header PlayStyle, Wingers with Whipped Pass Playstyles, and Defensive Midfielders with an Aerial PlayStyle.
Match Ready Training hosts a variety of Dribbling, Defending, Passing, Shooting and Set Piece drills, allowing you to choose between improving your own team’s strengths or focusing on stopping your opposition’s attacking plans.
Tactical View
Ever since we added the option to sim the match at high speed we have received requests from the community about being able to spectate a match. We wanted to make sure that we deliver this Manager Career addition to the best of our ability and we’re very happy to share the details here.
Through Tactical View you will be able to watch the match from different viewing angles. You can monitor the activity of specific players or get a bird’s eye view of the whole action. We have even added the option to spectate the match from the chaos and dynamics of the touchline, from just behind the manager.
You can change views as the match plays without having to pause, and you can make quick tactics changes as well as switch your game plan as the game progresses.
Tactical View is fully integrated with the other ways to experience Manager Career. If you feel the need to take matters into your own hands you are able to do so through the pause menu. Or maybe you gained a comfortable lead over your opponent and want to sit back and watch the rest of the match from Tactical View. You can even transition to Sim to get to the final whistle faster.
Additional Improvements
- We’ve expanded the amount of clothing and accessory options for managers to include some requested items such as hoodies, tracksuits, sweater-shirt combos, as well as glasses.
- Our list of kit templates for Create Your Club has been expanded to include a variety of models that are featuring chest sponsors.
- We’ve redesigned the decision making process of the AI when determining whether they want to add a buy clause or not, when you loan out a player to them. We’ve implemented a points system that will evaluate the buy clause desirability based on multiple factors:
- The quality of the player
- How much of the team’s transfer budget would be required to buy the player.
- If the club lacks squad depth in the area or if they have an excess of players in that particular department.
- We’ve added a change to the AI shopping list logic to make sure that the Board Priority a club has for Youth Development will play a role in determining how much they would look for promising players. Expect tougher competition from the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid to sign the stars of the future.
Moving forward, the AI will try to keep a balanced number of players on the left and right sides of the pitch.
Dynamic Moments
Our Cinematics team has been hard at work this year with a very clear goal in mind: celebrate success! We’ve looked at accolades from both a team and an individual level and we are so excited to include the following scenes:
- We are happy to announce that we have partnered with the Ballon d’Or® to showcase the pinnacle of player performance recognition in EA SPORTS FC™ 24. Enjoy the thrill of your Player receiving the world’s most prestigious individual football award.
- The open top bus trophy parade will represent the conclusion of a season which has seen you help your team win at least one trophy, but will bring together all the trophies you have won.
- The Manager of the Year and Player of the Season awards will be presented to their winners in extravagant galas. Ensure your team delivers top performances across the season to grab the award yourself or cheer on your players from the audience as they lift the prestigious trophy at the end of a campaign.
The new Dynamic Moments cutscenes will only be viewable on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in both Manager and Player Career.
We can’t wait for you to get a chance to check these features out in Manager Career in EA SPORTS FC™ 24! If you want to read about the exciting new features we have coming in Player Career, click here.
In Player Career we are introducing Player Agents, enabling you to choose your own path and achieve your dream transfer. We’re bringing PlayStyles to Player Career to allow you to create your own unique player - both on and off the pitch, we’re putting your player into the centre of the action with the new Focus Camera and we’re introducing a range of new dynamic moments that include from Open Top Bus Parades and Awards Events. On top of all this we’re delighted to announce that you can now earn football’s greatest individual honour the Ballon d’Or® and become a legend of the game!
Let’s get into it.
Please note that video and screenshots within this article have been captured from an early EA SPORTS FC™ 24 build, and may not reflect current lineups, positions, shirt numbers etc.
Player Agent
Role of the Agent
The Player Agent allows for deep diving into the world of transfers, contracts and the many twists that are going to shape your career across multiple seasons. The Player Agent is going to guide you on your journey, commenting on achievements and losses, and most importantly, helping you shape your future by negotiating with clubs about potential transfers and contracts that shape your career.
Shaping your Path
Negotiations are a crucial part of the Player Agent. Even when you secure another season at your current club, you will always need to think ahead. At the end of each Season your progress is evaluated and it will determine if your Club wants to keep you in their squad or if you will have to look for other opportunities.
You can set up Your Career Path by selecting a target team or look to move to one of the Clubs recommended to you by your Player Agent.
Target Team
A Target Team is a Club that you can set as the next step in a career. Objectives for the Club are tracked across each season and if you successfully complete them, you will be able to join that club. You can only have one Target Team active at any point, but are able to change the target at points across the season.
The Agent will help you evaluate your choice of Target Team and if you aim too high, they will recommend a stepping-stone club that could be a bridge between your current team and the Target Team.
Sometimes teams might not want to sign you, their budget plan might not be flexible enough, they might not need someone for your specific position, or their profile does not meet your style of play. As you develop, teams might change their mind and you may get the opportunity to join them in future seasons.
Recommendations
As the season unfolds, your trusted Agent curates opportunities uniquely tailored to your performance and career progression.
The Agent evaluates your performance throughout the season, offering timely club recommendations that aren't just transfer opportunities but distinctive challenges. By meeting the Agent's outlined objectives, you will secure a place at Clubs that could act as stepping-stones to bigger and better things.
These recommendations are designed to elevate your career, guiding you towards superior teams while considering geographical context and wage potential. The Agent also provides recommendations before the end of the season based on your current performance, ensuring you always have options for next season. The Agent even informs you of that team’s Tactical Vision, so you feel comfortable knowing what will be expected of you on the pitch when eventually making the switch.
Objective Generator
Each Club in the game has a set of requirements that need to be met to either join a new club or continue with your current contract at the team you’re playing for - those requirements are objectives that are active through the current Season.
Objectives depend on a few factors including the prestige of the League to which the Club belongs, its Star Rating, and financial well-being. On top of that there is the most important factor, your financial expectations expressed in a weekly wage that you want to earn when you move clubs or are starting the next season at the current club.
Based on these criteria, objectives are created and split into two categories, Mandatory and Optional:
- Mandatory Objectives have to be fulfilled for a Club to even consider working with you. They are the absolute minimum needed for signing a new contract or securing a place at your current club.
- Optional Objectives come into play when you want to earn more. Completing them, alongside the Mandatory Objectives, increases the weekly wage that the club is willing to pay you.
What the Mandatory and Optional Objectives are is defined by the tactical style of the Club and your position. For example, if your Club favours more dynamic fast paced football, expect more Objectives like pass & go’, while for those Clubs which prefer more defensive approach, clean sheets and ball possession will play a more important role.
Always plan ahead
It’s important to always plan ahead, so your career will develop in the way you want. Through the Season, with the help of the Agent, you are able to set your financial requirements towards your Current, Target and Recommended Clubs.
Towards the end of the season the agent will need you to lock down your targets so you won't be able to edit your wages any further. It’s good to think about your next move before that happens, so you are going to have more options in choosing where you want to play next Season, but also maximise your financial potential.
Weekly Wage Expectation
In terms of the salary (Weekly Wage) each Club will provide a different range depending on the same factors mentioned for generating the Objectives. Generally it means that a better club, from a better league, can provide better financial terms, but they will have higher demands from your performance. Players’ overall rating is also taken into account. The more developed you are, the bigger salary opportunities can lie ahead.
If you are not going to be able to fulfil all the Objectives, the Club still might want to sign a contract, but potentially for a lower salary. It's also important to note that if you are going to overperform greatly, the Club might not want to fully compensate for the additional objectives, so you have to be careful when selecting how much you want to earn.
On Loan
Your current Club is going to be monitoring your progress and will require you to complete objectives to continue playing there. You can negotiate a higher salary to develop your career, but it's important to keep your performance above the level of Club's minimum wage threshold. If, at the end of the Season, the Mandatory Objectives for the Current Club are not going to be met, you may have the option to go on loan.
If you agree, you will be sent to another club where you will have to prove your worth to be able to come back to the original club and continue your career there.
If you don’t, you will have to look for another club and sign a contract with them, leaving the original club.
Free Agent
If your contract with the Current Club is going to expire, you can renew it if the Club is satisfied with your performance or go looking for a new Club as a Free Agent. Joining a Club as Free Agent provides a bonus to the weekly wage, so planned transfers can be financially beneficial.
PlayStyles
Player Personality 2.0
In EA SPORTS FC™ 24 we have further developed the Player Personality system, allowing you to shape how your player grows. At each of the 7 levels of Personality, you will be able to assign a PlayStyle, a unique booster that will change how you behave on the pitch. Exactly what PlayStyles are available for you to assign, depends on the distribution of Personality Points between existing Personalities - Maverick, Heartbeat and Virtuoso. The more you are dedicated to developing one type of personality, the more PlayStyles you will get from that type.
PlayStyles in Player Personality
Personality evolves over time as you get more experience, allowing for equipping of PlayStyles that were not accessible before and potentially losing access to those associated with a Personality type that no longer represents you. There are also generic PlayStyles that can be equipped across all the Personality types.
PlayStyles+
When you progress to the last level of Personality, if one of the Personality types may become highly dominant, you will get access to turn one of your equipped PlayStyles into a powerful, more refined version called a PlayStyle+.
Focus Camera
We asked ourselves what we can do to improve the camera when playing locked to your player and we put all the options on the table. In the end we deemed that one of the most important aspects of implementing a new camera is the fact that we want the experience to be consistent with all the other modes you love to play in EA SPORTS FC™ 24.
So we came up with a list of key improvements to the default camera that will provide a more immersive experience in Player Career.
First of all, the camera will prioritise keeping your player on the screen, while also trying to keep an eye on the ball.When you are approaching the opponent box or when performing key actions such as dribbling or jockeying, the camera will close in on the player to emphasise the importance of their actions.
These enhancements, which we call Focus, are available on all platforms, and the enhancements have been applied to the default camera of each console generation. Tactical Focus camera will be available on PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. Legacy Focus camera will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Switch.
Customization
We have expanded the customization options for your player with some requested items:
Tattoos
We are also introducing Face Guards and Goggles into Player Career, so on top of using PlayStyles to create a unique player with relation to how you play on the pitch, there are now more ways to customize how you look.
Training Updates
We’ve made two quality of life improvements:
- You can now participate in training sessions ahead of each match. You don’t need to worry about missing a training session because you’ve advanced to the next match.
- As you play the training sessions you will also earn Personality Points to aid with your player development.
Dynamic Moments
Our Cinematics team has been hard at work this year with a very clear goal in mind: Celebrate success! We’ve looked at accolades from both a team and an individual perspective and we’ve come up with:
- We are happy to announce that we have partnered with the Ballon d’Or® to showcase the pinnacle of player performance recognition in EA SPORTS FC™ 24. Enjoy the thrill of watching your Player receive the world’s most prestigious individual football award.
- The open top bus trophy parade will represent the conclusion of a season which has seen you help your team win at least one trophy, but will bring together all the trophies you have won.
- The Manager of the Year and Player of the Season awards will be presented to their winners in extravagant galas. Ensure your team delivers top performances across the season to grab the award yourself or cheer on your players from the audience as they lift the prestigious trophy at the end of a campaign.
The new Dynamic Moments will only be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC in both Manager and Player Career.
We can’t wait for you to get a chance to check these additions out in Player Career in EA SPORTS FC™ 24! If you want to read about the exciting new changes we have coming in Manager Career, click here.
EA SPORTS FC™ 24 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch
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