EA Sports FC 27 Aperçu : On a pu tester « The Grounds

The biggest new feature in EA Sports FC 27 this year is undoubtedly the new game mode, "The Grounds." I recently had the chance to test this new feature in person in Vancouver, Canada, although it was a very short experience. Here, I'll share my impressions and what you can expect when the game releases in September.

If you've played the NBA 2K series in recent years, you'll immediately recognize the concept. Essentially, it's an online hub designed as an open world where you can roam, use emotes, showcase your new outfits, and most importantly, access different types of matches. EA Sports' vision is for this to become the new way to experience "Clubs," the game mode where you team up with friends to form your own club and compete against other online clubs. Here, you'll now be able to represent your club in various match types where you won't even need to play with your teammates. For example, you can jump into a three-vs-three match with unknown teammates through the "drop-in" mode, while still contributing to the goals needed to complete various challenges. Of course, you can also play eleven-vs-eleven matches.

"Everything in The Grounds was designed from the ground up to address three key player demands. First: fans want more ways to play together, whether with their friends and teammates or individually. Second: they want more ways to build a football identity, more ways to progress. Number three: they want more ways to experience football culture in its entirety, on and off the pitch," the developers stated during a presentation.

This year's new addition to the Clubs mode is that there will now be eleven-vs-eleven tournaments, not just the usual ranked matches. Throughout the year, the number of tournament rounds and match rules will change, as will the rewards associated with these tournaments.

"While you'll have personal reasons to experience these and evolve your avatar, we're also introducing club objectives. So there will be incentives for you and your teammates to work together or separately to progress, compete, and earn unique rewards."

However, as mentioned, this new game mode isn't just for players in clubs. You can also jump in solo. The open world is divided into three different districts inspired by Argentina, England, and France. In addition to having their own mentor (Dybala, Chloe Kelly, and Mbappé, along with Alex Hunter, the fictional main character from the 'The Journey' story mode from a few years ago, who makes a return), each district has a distinct feel with different types of football pitches. You can play various match types in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, as well as the "Rush" mode that has appeared in recent years. During our thirty-minute session – which is far too short to form a definitive opinion – we were able to try a 2v2 mode with different rules for scoring. Each rule lasts for one minute, and I particularly noted that you might be forced to score while the ball is in the air, with a direct shot where the ball must hit the back of the net for the goal to count; another rule requires the ball to pass through a slalom gate, and so on. If you score without meeting these conditions, the goal won't count, and it becomes even more challenging since you have to aim your shots yourself – don't count on in-game assistance.

There was also a three-vs-three match where the goals were much smaller (imagine the kind you can buy at a sports store to set up in your garden for your kids), and the third and final match type we tried wasn't even a match: it was a game called "Balloon Ball." It's a kind of dodgeball where you try to hit opponents with the ball, and if you hit them, you take away a life, or a ball. Some Mario Kart games have a similar game mode you might have tried: as in the three-round match, you can hide behind cushions and pick up power-ups that, among other things, allow you to throw car tires at your opponents to knock them down. There are also other types of games that we couldn't test, such as one where you score points by getting the ball into a basketball hoop, which they showcased in the latest trailer.

My impression after testing this (keep in mind it was only 30 minutes) is positive. It might just be the novelty effect, and the main appeal is simply having something new to do. I see it as a kind of "party game" mode, something I can hop into and have some fun without sitting there getting frustrated because I'm being dominated by a team full of Legends in Ultimate Team. The big question is how EA Sports will manage to keep players engaged throughout the game's lifecycle. How many will play it for a while before getting bored? We've already seen examples of this with Volta, and to some extent with Rush too: players find it original and fun, but the novelty wears off gradually over time. What will make me want to replay the same types of matches over and over? EA Sports needs to strike the right balance to keep the game rewarding.

During yesterday's presentation, they revealed that The Grounds will feature different themes throughout the year. The first is inspired by the Champions League, the second is "Scream" for Halloween, and this winter, we'll also have a winter-themed setting. This means the entire open world will be filled with decorations and other thematic elements. We specifically saw that the atmosphere would become darker for Halloween, with pumpkins everywhere that you could smash. This is actually one of the few things you can do in the open world, besides running around and shooting balls at various targets. Otherwise, you just run to a football pitch, stand there, and queue.

One of the big questions that came to mind is: couldn't this have just been a menu option instead? Rather than having to run (or teleport) to the type of match you want to play, couldn't it have been directly in the main menu? Clubs have always been there, but now you have to go into The Grounds, then run to the club house, and it's the same for Rush. And then there's an additional menu for "group matches." Even though I had fun during the short time I played it, and it's definitely more enjoyable to play with someone than solo, I can't shake the feeling that this is yet another way for the company to make money. NBA 2K already feels like a giant mall with a bit of basketball thrown in. Will "The Grounds" in "EA Sports FC 27" give you the same impression? That remains to be seen until I've had the chance to spend enough time in this mode, but they are really emphasizing that they offer official clothing brands from which you can buy outfits to use in-game, in addition to match kits and everyday wear. On top of that, there are various emotes and upgrades for your avatar.

"This customization theme extends throughout The Grounds, with plenty of new ways to express yourself on the pitch. From match kits to everyday wear, football fashion has become a must-have element of modern football. In The Grounds, we wanted to offer you that same level of personal expression, providing you with new ways to showcase your exploits and create your own football style."

The player progression system works like this: you choose an archetype, then unlock attribute bonuses by leveling up or equipping a special booster. You can have three at a time; they can be general or based on specific real players. They are then available for a certain number of matches before they disappear. Bonuses earned through leveling up are permanent for all archetypes. So, if you start as a "finisher" and reach level ten, you'll unlock a +1 in "finishing" and a +1 in "composure," which will remain even if you switch to another archetype. Temporary boosters can be earned through various missions or simply by purchasing them.

Overall, this is clearly the biggest new addition EA Sports has introduced to the series in a long time, perhaps even since the launch of Ultimate Team. Unfortunately, as I mentioned, I only had 30 minutes to test The Grounds, and we weren't allowed to take our own photos of the preview build. If you're wondering what the other game modes look like, there will be a preview of each of them next week. Despite all this, "The Grounds" is a good start, even if it's controversial. This game mode will not be available on previous generation consoles, but only on PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S.