The EA Sports FC franchise, once celebrated as the pinnacle of virtual football, is showing signs of FC 25 Coins serious decline. Since its rebranding from FIFA in 2023, the game has faced critical issues that have soured its reputation among fans and casual players alike. Despite impressive overall sales, rumors suggest that unit sales have slightly decreased over the past three years, hinting at possible discontent within its player base. Just a month after its release, the FC 25 Ultimate Edition saw a steep 60% discount—an unusual move that raises concerns about its popularity.
Let’s examine some of the major problems that have contributed to this franchise’s recent struggles.
A Low-Rated Game in Franchise History
FC 25 is one of the lowest-rated games in EA Sports’ football series, sitting at a 1.9 Google rating and 2.7 on Metacritic. Frustrated players have expressed dissatisfaction with the gameplay experience, listing the issues as severe enough to warrant these unusually low scores. The much-touted FC IQ feature has failed to deliver the dynamic changes it promised, and while the new Rush game mode had potential, its appeal is marred by bugs and poor functionality. A resurgence of five-at-the-back formations has also taken away from the excitement, with players finding it nearly impossible to enjoy the gameplay when facing such stifling tactics.
Furthermore, the Career mode—a key attraction for many—has yet to receive the meaningful updates needed to provide an engaging experience. These issues reflect a general consensus among players that FC 25 is a step back for the franchise.
A Minefield of Bugs
The multitude of bugs in FC 25 has added another layer of frustration for players. Reports highlight everything from scoring bugs where goals are inexplicably disallowed to more unique glitches, like “invisible barriers” preventing opponents from taking free kicks. These issues break immersion and severely impact the gameplay experience. PC players, in particular, bear the brunt of these challenges. Cheaters on PC have exploited the game to disconnect opponents in Weekend League, claiming wins without actually playing. This hacking epidemic gives them an unfair advantage in earning rewards and access to top-tier cards, which inflates the in-game market to the detriment of regular players.
This has led to an increase in the prices of high-value cards, particularly on PC, where players like Kylian Mbappé are now almost extinct, while others like Yaya Touré command prices far above their console counterparts.
Unfriendly to Casual Players
The experience for casual players in FC 25 is less than ideal, and the game’s competitive elements exacerbate this issue. FUT Champions remains a highly competitive mode, as it should be. However, even casual modes like Rivals and Squad Battles offer minimal rewards, making it difficult for those who don’t invest significant time—or money—into the game to build competitive teams. Players have noted the frequent disappointment in rewards, with high-effort activities often yielding low-value cards, such as 84 or 86 OVR players that hold minimal in-game value.
With weekly promos introducing high-cost player cards that most casual players can’t access without spending real money, the gap between free-to-play and paying players is widening. The scarcity of fodder cards also limits the ability of casual players to complete high-value SBCs, resulting in a repetitive and ultimately disheartening gameplay loop.
Why Profits Keep Rising Despite Decline
Interestingly, EA Sports FC remains profitable, and each installment continues to out-earn its predecessor, largely due to the microtransactions tied to FC Points. Despite a negative player response to the monetization model, the franchise’s profitability suggests that either more players are buying FC Points or existing buyers are purchasing them in larger quantities. This revenue model seems to incentivize EA Sports to maintain the status quo, focusing on short-term profit over long-term player satisfaction.
Unfortunately, this approach may indicate that EA Sports feels little pressure to improve gameplay or address player complaints substantively. The reliance on microtransactions may well mean that fans can expect only minor updates to gameplay and features in the future, with each new edition serving as little more than a visual refresh.
Conclusion
The EA Sports FC franchise has fallen short of delivering a well-rounded football experience, alienating casual and competitive players alike. While the game continues to turn a profit, a shrinking and increasingly disillusioned player base is a troubling sign for the franchise’s longevity. For now, the best that players can hope for is that EA Sports recognizes the importance of community feedback and takes substantial steps to revamp the game, ensuring that future editions deliver a high-quality football simulation experience.
A return to form could mean happier players and even better profit margins for EA Sports—a win-win for both sides. Only time will tell if EA will pivot to FC Coins for sale prioritize gameplay quality over short-term financial gain. Until then, FC 25 remains a reminder of how far the franchise has drifted from its former glory.
