EA must have been feeling pretty generous when it deployed the free World Cup update to FIFA 18 - the company has, in previous years, made the most of the licence by releasing stand-alone World Cup titles.
While the update has gone down as a very welcome addition to the game, some players have voiced the opinion that the gameplay isn't quite up to the core FIFA 18 standard. Some have claimed that EA has made changes which make it feel slower to play, and that both passing and dribbling have become harder. It has also been claimed that shooting is now overpowered, lending an 'arcade' feel to the game.
However, according to Andrei Lazarescu - producer of the Switch version of the game and the World Cup update - none of this is true. Speaking to Eurogamer at E3, he explained his theories for why players feel the game has changed.
Refreshed player stats based on the national team form is one reason; these will differ from the stats seen in the same players in the main game, especially in the Ultimate Team mode, in which the abilities of each player can be boosted over a period of time. Lazarescu thinks that FIFA fans are heading into the World Cup update expecting every single team member to be as fast, skilful and potent as they are in the Ultimate Team mode, which isn't likely. As a result, the game feels different.
That's a pretty convincing explanation, but Lazarescu has another theory, and it's a little more straightforward. The World Cup mode has an entirely overhauled look, and this could contribute to the impression that things have changed behind the scenes when, in fact, they haven't:
Players saw it and thought, oh, this is new, and psychologically it feels like new gameplay.
Do you feel that the World Cup update feels different in terms of gameplay? Does Lazarescu's take on the situation convince you? Let us know with a comment, and if you've yet to try the game out, it's on sale at the moment.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 16
It's quite clearly different, and the patch that introduced their half-assed World Cup modes have affected the gameplay in the main game in the same way. If they ever read their feedback forums, they'd see all the players saying 'it isn't just the World Cup mode, all of my players are noticeably slower now in the main game' but that seems to be beyond them.
Feels identical to me - I don't play Ultimate team though.
Its lucky it was a freebie update as its a terrible update - stadiums gets a tick. Commentary is awful as always and completely ruins the feel of the world cup. The bloated squads and inability to edit squad numbers ruin the feel and/or challenges of the world cup.
They should have allowed editing of squads and capped squads at 23.
Qualification should have been an option.
Commentary - time to get rid of smith... and look at how they implement the commentary.
The gameplay doesn't feel any slower to me, but yeah, I don't mess with Ultimate team. I just play in Career mode and the new World Cup mode.
@Stocksy I haven't noticed any difference with the gameplay either. I also agree Smith has to go, he's brutal to listen to.Overall though, I'm fairly happy with the update, it's got me playing the game again.
@OorWullie it’s made me take a break from rebuilding the #wengerout brigade....
I just want to either be able to pick my own squad or have the proper squads. Injuries and suspensions are no issue if you have a massive squad and all the squad numbers kill it - my ocd wants proper numbers.
Does anyone know whether they updated it again to fix this? https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/fifa_18s_world_cup_update_is_out_today_on_switch_but_its_crashing_peoples_consoles
@Stocksy I completely agree with every single word of your comment. Especially with regards to bloated squads [England’s squad is a joke] and awful commentary [especially Alan Smith].
Gameplay is still plenty of fun though.
@RETRO_J Haha! I just won the World Cup as England. Beat Portugal 3-2 in the final with Jamie Vardy coming off the bench to score the winner! Harry Kane won the Golden Boot.
I beat Tunisia 2-1 in the group opener.. an omen as to the real thing?!!
@dystome downloaded this 2 days ago had no probs or crashes so must be fixed
I haven't noticed a difference personally.
I have been holding a world cup at work on my switch when we are quiet and my staff love it. Won as Russia 2-0 to Egypt today, wonder if that'll play out this evening?
While EA notoriously output garbage games spruced up with marketing and lies. Unfortunately no amount of glitter can change the turd that is football.
Such a boring sport, and in turn video game. Sad really. Bring NHL and Madden to switch soon please EA
It's the same game, in the same engine, just a different bit of presentation and some updated kits.
Good of EA to give this away as a free update but shows how easily they could just patch FIFA annually to update it for the new season but can't blame them for milking that cash cow.
Is the same for me, no changes other than aesthetics and of course I get the difference in player performance between World Cup mode and the others. What I hate is that there’s no mode to mimic the real results or even a way for the game to update their lineups to what they were in reality. I don’t get it, every time the game downloads and update to the latest team or whatever but initial lineup is not the same as in a game that took place yesterday for example.
@Captain_Gonru it’s been working fine for me I must admit I was a bit hesitant but it’s been fine for me having read up on it tho it seems to affect some and not others
I know it's bad form to bemoan a free update, but the amount of times the commentators bring up Germany's 7-1 win over Brazil is borderline making the game unplayable for me...
When I compare this to previous dedicated standalone World Cup FIFA games, it is a pretty shabby update...
BUT it is free...
@Captain_Gonru Thanks. Was expecting something like this. Can’t imagine this to be too much work for EA.
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