FIFA 21

Release Strategy and Platform Evolution

FIFA 21 launched worldwide on 9 October 2020 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The Switch version was again a Legacy Edition, which meant it contained updated kits and rosters but omitted all new gameplay modes introduced elsewhere. This approach drew sharp criticism, with one major review site republishing its negative review from FIFA 20, calling the minimal changes disgraceful. The game had three official editions: Ultimate, Champions, and Standard, with the premium editions releasing three days early on 6 October. EA Play subscribers could access a 10-hour trial from 1 October.

A defining aspect of this release was its handling of the new console generation. Enhanced versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S arrived on 3 December 2020, with a Stadia version following in March 2021. EA supported a one-way club progression transfer within console families, allowing moves from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 or Xbox One to the new Xbox consoles, but strictly prohibited cross-platform transfers between PlayStation and Xbox ecosystems. The company explained the lack of a public demo by stating a focus on delivering the full game experience for current and next-gen consoles. The online servers for all platforms except Stadia were shut down on 6 November 2023.

Licensing Landscape and Absences

FIFA 21 featured an extensive database of over 30 official leagues, 700 clubs, and 17,000 players. It also announced an exclusive multi-year partnership with both Milan clubs, Inter and AC Milan. However, the game was notable for several high-profile licensing losses. Major clubs including Juventus, AS Roma, River Plate, Boca Juniors, and Corinthians were not officially present. They appeared under fabricated names like Piemonte Calcio, Roma FC, Nuñez, Buenos Aires, and Oceânico FC. While player likenesses were retained for most, these clubs used custom badges, kits, and generic stadiums.

Other fully licensed clubs, such as Bayern Munich and Barcelona, were included without their real-world stadiums. The Finland national team was fully licensed for the first time. Stadiums were a particular issue. Elland Road, home of newly promoted Leeds United, was missing at launch due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but was added in a February 2021 update. Conversely, stadiums like the Stadio Olimpico (AS Roma) and Riazor (Deportivo La Coruña) were removed from the game entirely following their clubs' relegations or licensing changes.

Ultimate Team: Additions and Mechanics

FIFA Ultimate Team received substantial updates in FIFA 21. The coveted Icon roster was expanded to 100 players, with 11 new additions such as Eric Cantona, Petr Čech, Ashley Cole, Samuel Eto'o, Philipp Lahm, Ferenc Puskás, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Davor Šuker, Fernando Torres, Nemanja Vidić, and Xavi. Jens Lehmann was removed as an Icon compared to prior games. The mode introduced cooperative gameplay, allowing friends to play together in Division Rivals, Squad Battles, and Friendlies to complete shared objectives.

Several core mechanics were overhauled. Fitness and training consumable items were completely removed from the game. Players still lost stamina during a match, but automatically began the next match at full fitness, simplifying club management. The competitive FUT Champions ranking was expanded from a Top 100 to a Top 200. New features included deep stadium customization with tifos and pyrotechnics, and Live FUT Friendlies that combined special house rules with squad building challenges. Player item upgrades also became more specific, allowing a special card to receive a major boost in a single stat, like free-kick accuracy, based on a real-world performance.

Controversies: Loot Boxes, Content Sales, and Player Likeness

FIFA 21 operated within a growing storm of controversy around its business model. The Ultimate Team mode, classified by many as featuring loot boxes, faced government pressure. Following earlier action, EA stopped selling FIFA Points in Belgium in 2019. During 2020, petitions to ban the points emerged, with their legality debated in the US and the UK. A Dutch judge ruled that EA should be fined half a million euros per week until loot boxes were removed from the game.

A separate scandal, termed EAGate, erupted in March 2021. Players discovered that EA employees were allegedly using an internal content granting tool to sell rare Icon Moment cards for hundreds of US dollars through secret channels, bypassing the in-game market. EA confirmed an investigation involving multiple accounts and indefinitely suspended the content granting system. In a parallel legal challenge, star players Zlatan Ibrahimović and Gareth Bale publicly stated they had not authorized EA Sports to use their likenesses. Ibrahimović intended to take legal action, a move that reportedly garnered support from up to 300 other players.

Other Modes and Presentation

Beyond Ultimate Team, other modes saw updates. Career Mode, after years of community criticism, received new features. These included a revamped interactive match simulation letting players jump in and out of matches, a new training system for weekly schedules and position changes, and improved AI for transfers and youth development. VOLTA Football 21 continued its street football story with The Debut, a narrative sequel featuring legends Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Kaká, and Frank Lampard as managers. It added five new locations Dubai, Milan, Paris, São Paulo, and Sydney and introduced the online Volta Squads mode.

The game's presentation marked a historic shift. For the first time since FIFA 06, the English commentary booth did not feature Martin Tyler or Alan Smith. They were replaced by Derek Rae and Lee Dixon. The game's cover and ambassador roster highlighted global stars. Kylian Mbappé was the sole cover athlete, while official ambassadors included Erling Haaland, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Sam Kerr. A separate FIFA Next ambassador list promoted emerging talents like Phil Foden, Giovanni Reyna, and Mallory Pugh. Upon reveal, the game's box art was criticized by fans for its incoherent composition.

Reception and Competitive Recognition

Critical reception for FIFA 21 varied dramatically by platform. According to Metacritic, the Xbox One version received generally positive reviews, while the PC and PlayStation 4 versions earned mixed or average scores. The Nintendo Switch Legacy Edition was met with generally unfavorable reviews. IGN awarded it a 2 out of 10, stating it was virtually unchanged from the previous year's Legacy Edition. The review aggregator OpenCritic noted only 47% of critics recommended the game.

Despite the criticism, FIFA 21 earned nominations in the sports category at major industry awards. It was a contender for Best Sports/Racing Game at The Game Awards 2020 and for Sports Game of the Year at the 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. These nominations acknowledged its role as a staple of the genre during a complex transitional year for the industry and the franchise itself.