There are just a few days until the FIFA 2022 edition, and the news about its novelties flood the Internet. To make the wait less long, we are going to review the characteristics that have caused the most ink to run in the specialized press and some differences between versions for the different platforms, decisions that have not been without controversy.
The major European leagues have already played for several days, football takes over the bar conversations again, the bookmakers throw the rest with their offers of free bets and the sports press are once again at the center of newsstands. The only thing missing the launch of FIFA 22 to round off the new start of the season. The official date for global launch is October 1, but those who have reserved The Ultimate edition will be playable earlier, on September 27. For content creators, this date is brought forward five more days, to September 22.
In recent months, the news with which the EA title aspires to revalidate its throne as the king of digital football has been unraveled against Konami’s proposal, now revamped in the free eFootball. This year, a new contender is also added, also free: UFL. With the consolidation of next gen platforms in the market, a significant qualitative leap is expected for the 2022 version of FIFA. As announced, PS5 and Xbox Series (also Stadia), will be able to enjoy HyperMotion motion capture technology, integrated into the Frostbite game engine.
To get somefluid and realistic animations, from EA they claim to have registered almostnine million frames and other data, which have been processed using a neural learning algorithm. Thus, the new generation consoles will be able to generate animations in real time so that the response of the players on the field is even more natural and organic. 22 players participated in the capture processes, all of them professionals from two Spanish teams: Gerena and Atlético Sanluqueño.
SOURCEAND: EA Sports FIFTO
To get somefluid and realistic animations, from EA they claim to have registered almostnine million frames and other data, which have been processed using a neural learning algorithm. Thus, the new generation consoles will be able to generate animations in real time so that the response of the players on the field is even more natural and organic. 22 players participated in the capture processes, all of them professionals from two Spanish teams: Gerena and Atlético Sanluqueño.
We also know that, unlike the situation with FIFA 21,free updates are overfor the PS5 and Xbox Series. 2020 was clearly a year of transition for both, and this policy made sense for EA. This year, only those who purchase the Ultimate Edition versions of PS4 or Xbox One will be able to upgrade to the next gen version at no additional cost. The rest, they will have to pay for both separately. By the way,PC version will not have HyperMotion technology output, but it is not ruled out that it will be included in future updates, although this last point is not yet confirmed.
Artificial intelligence will also help the PS5 and Xbox Series versions offerimprovements in capacity and tactical responseof the players on the field of play. The leaked data states that each player will multiply by six the number of decisions that he is able to analyze per second, which means an improvement in reaction times. From the point of view of defenses, it seems that the AI has been reprogrammed so that there are no mismatches in the formations and that the teams function as (ideally) they would on a real pitch, adapting the response of the block to each opponent’s attack situation.
The way the goalkeepers behave has also been the subject of a thorough review, although the latest gameplay videos availablehave triggered the alarmsas far as his response to long shots, from outside the area, he is concerned. In the match that facedHashtag Tom vs. Tekkz, two British professional players, it could be seen that the goalkeepers exhibited aunnatural response to quality long shotsAlthough, since it is a beta and seeing the response of the fans, it would be expected that this type of situation will be corrected in the final version. That there is room for improvement was also evident in the 56th minute, when Tekkz mounted a counter with Salah and Mbappé in which Joao Cancelo was left hanging and avoided the French forward’s offside.
SOURCEAND: EA Sports FIFA esport channels
Likewise, this game served to learn about the operation ofnew movements like the explosive sprint, and to see the new attacking tactics and much-talked about optimized ball physics in action. Contrary to what happens with HyperMotion technology, all of them will be available for all versions of the game, including those of the previous generation consoles and PC.
When it comes to game modes, diversity will once again be the keynote in this title. We will have theCareer, Pro Clubs, Ultimate Team and VOLTA modes. Another aspect that will not be neglected in FIFA 22 is that of licenses: with more than17,000 players,700 teamsand more ofsome thirty national and international competitions, including the UEFA Champions League or the Libertadores, to name a couple, it does not seem that there are going to be problems in this regard. And let’s not forget that the newUEFA Europa Conference LeagueIt will be an exclusive FIFA 22 competition, a fact that had already been announced months ago.
As we have already commented before,FIFA has been able to end the PES franchise, which will now try its luck in the free-to-play market. Konami has decided to abandon the battle against EA and look for new seas to fish. Such is the change that we have gone from PES to simply eFootball, a concept that has already been exploited in the latest versions of the Pro Evolution. With eFootball the annual versions are over to give way to a profitability model closer to the game as a service, as well as the physical versions, since this title will be distributed only in digital format.
And finally, it should be remembered that this yearit seems that there is a demoso that potential buyers can test the virtues of the new iteration of FIFA. The launch date of the same was leaked in a Feyenord publication, which meant a small (or not so small) slap on the wrist to the head of communication in social networks of the club. There is very little left for us to get our first impressions of FIFA 22, a title that, one more year, is set to sweep sales and become one of the most gifted games of Christmas.