Perfecting FC Online Seasons – Food For Thought

If you are a seasoned veteran of FC games and you’re someone who likes to champion the online seasons format, you will adapt to the format and dynamic of FC 26, and you will have your own suggestions for how they can improve.

As somebody who has been playing FC for years, scraping and scrapping my way to a proud Division 1 winner, the online format has plateaued since the start of this decade. The rise of FUT has been the obvious reason why fewer eyes and ears are behind any real innovation in the classic, traditional seasons format. While esports tournaments might not command the same sort of prizes we have seen in other prominent games, many of the top tournaments have five-figure prize sums, so it’s nothing to snuff at.

However, it is still a version of the game with thousands of people online at any given time, and with EA Sports having monopolized this niche, there’s no real excuse for them to neglect this important and well-established element of their online ecosystem. So, where could they improve the user experience? Let’s dive in.

Freshening It Up – Influence From Other Sectors

We have seen how many other areas of the gaming market have utilized technological advances to attract a global audience. In casino gaming, or slot gaming, more specifically, we have seen how this approach has driven growth, whether in conventional slot games and themed ideas or hold and win games that tap into the latest high-spec tech.

The rise of hold and win slot games has been a testament to the broader slots market's dedication to championing new ideas in the slot gaming sector. Keeping it new while still maintaining the presence and appeal of the initial design has helped open the horizon for existing and new customers.

We’ve seen this from a theme perspective, too. As game design quality has increased and ingenuity has taken on new forms, mythology-based games have integrated audiovisual elements alongside their pre-existing mystery and aura, maximizing their potential value.

So, while EA Sports has been able to dominate the soccer gaming scene, there doesn’t feel as though there’s this same fearless drive to create ideas that challenge and change the more annoying elements of the current online seasons' mode.

Fairer Division Designs & Models

We know that EA Sports has an enviable task: keeping people engaged with its products and minimizing downtime between games. However, that line of thinking won’t help you too much if you are a Division 4 or 5 player who finds themselves playing against a Division 1 player just because they happen to be available at the time.

This skill disparity does nothing for people who want to enjoy the game, nor does it do much for those who wish to challenge themselves against fellow Division 1 players. This should be an easy fix, and while it might take longer to find a game, it’s a change that most people on both ends of the skill spectrum would welcome. This also applies to star teams.

If somebody picks 5-star teams like Real Madrid or current Champions League holders PSG, you shouldn’t have to try and beat them with a 4-star team – it’s not an enjoyable gaming experience.

Opt Out Of Same-Team Matchups

This might not apply to all gamers, but there’s a large chunk of online seasons players, including myself, who loathe the idea of playing against the same team. I almost exclusively go for Real Madrid, and when someone else does, it takes away the game's realism, and many people end up mutually quitting.

Although I have encountered France vs France matches, and although they go into this year’s World Cup as one of the favorites, especially following the frustrations of Euro 2024, it can be tedious to face the same players you play with.

If there were a way to switch on a setting where same-team matchups did not happen, or you could see who your opponent has chosen before the game loads, this would be another way EA Sports could enhance the experience.

Miscellaneous Ideas

Aside from fairer division models and same-team headaches, there are other ways EA Sports could enhance their online seasons. Some gamers believe they could integrate tournaments where people pay an entrance fee, and the winner takes home the prize, although this is a challenging concept given that the online format spans several countries and jurisdictions.

Others have suggested that goal differences and goals scored should be weighted more heavily, allowing the top players to remain in their own bracket while other competent but not elite players find themselves in their own brackets.

A broader range of tools that let you track your form against current players, Division 1 players, or a comprehensive list of games, stats, and goal scorers would help boost engagement, too. There’s plenty of room to explore, so let’s hope FC 27 can dig around and give us something to look forward to when it goes on sale later this year.