What’s new to this year’s Ultimate Team?
FIFA Ultimate team is now undoubtedly the series premier mode and is back in FIFA 20 with a reworked UI and adjustments to the rewards system. But what exactly has changed? And have complaints about the scale of microtransactions been addressed at all?
What’s new in FIFA 20 Ultimate Team?
Let’s start with the rewards system. While also offering players chances to earn coins and cards through objectives and playing matches, the mode now incorporates a Battle Pass style XP system over a season to go with daily and weekly rewards. Play games and get XP, and you’ll be rewarded with more players and packs.
XP is earned by simply playing games and winning, so those willing to put in the most time will get the most from the Season of rewards. The first season of rewards will run until the end of next month.
The questionable ethical practices of buying the packs for random rewards are still there, as is purchasing a pass to play draft mode with real money via FIFA points. It’s one of the biggest profit makers for EA, so unless government regulation forces them to make a change (which is unlikely), they are here to stay.
However, with that said, EA does seem to be offering as many opportunities as they can to allow the player to build a great team-up without the need to buy any packs with real cash through the sheer number of cards and packs that you can earn through the various reward systems. The cards that you can earn a not tradable on the marketplace, but it’s a compromise which might be enough to settle the voices of anger within the industry for now.
There are also some small reworks to the presentation, with pack openings now taking place in the tunnel rather than on the pitch, designed to give the occasion a new grander feel. The squad and formation screen has also seen a refresh.
Otherwise, the model is similar to last year, with those that pay attention to team composition, chemistry and those who heavily tinker with the formations and tactics that will get the most out of their team. It’s a heavy time investment, like all the games that go along the live service route, but if you don’t feel that the loot box-style mechanic is enough of a concern for you to avoid the mode, you’ll enjoy it just as much as previous years.
If you want to know that the rest of the game follows suit, you can check out the Gamepur review here.
