| EA Sports FC Online | |
|---|---|
| Developer | EA Spearhead |
| Publishers | Nexon (Korea) Garena (Thailand and Vietnam) Tencent Gaming (China) |
| Directors | 1st: Park Jung-moo 2nd Park Sang-won |
| Series | FIFA,FIFA Online EA Sports FC |
| Engine | Ignite (based onFIFA 17,FIFA 18) |
| Platforms | Microsoft Windows iOS Android |
| Release | |
| Genres | Sports,football simulation |
| Modes | Single-player,multiplayer |
EA Sports FC Online (formerly known asFIFA Online 4) is afree-to-playmassively multiplayer onlinefootball game developed by EA Spearhead and published byNexon,Garena andTencent.[1] The game was released on 17 May 2018 in South Korea, then for China, Thailand and Vietnam markets in the following month.[2]
In December 2017, the first closed beta test was launched, and plenty have been held. InSouth Korea, it was released intoopen beta on 17 May 2018.[3] In Vietnam, the closed beta test started on 22 March 2018.[4]
In July 2018,EA Sports FC Online M (formerlyFIFA Online 4 M) was released in Korea for iOS and Android. It is a mobile version and sequel toFIFA Online 3 M.[5] It was later released in November 2018 in Vietnam and Thailand.
With the announcement that FIFA would no longer be licensing its name and brand to EA, Nexon assured fans that the end of the partnership would not affect the service of the game on both PC and mobile.[6] On 22 September 2023, FIFA Online 4 was updated to rebranding name EA Sports FC Online, following the split between EA and FIFA.
The game engine is not part of theFrostbite engine series because of hardware requirements.EA Sports FC Online is mostly based onFIFA 16 which runs on the Ignite Engine[7] and incorporates animations and other components fromFIFA 18. The gameplay and AI engine are fromFIFA 17.[8]
The game allows players to play regular matches with 2v2 or 3v3 matches like the main series as well as the Ultimate Team feature seen in other games. The game allows the ability to buy players from a marketplace and help build their stats by purchasing items.[9] FC Online have several updates of game modes for the next seasons following the next traditional FC (previously FIFA) games such as House Rules fromFIFA 19,UEFA Champions League and VOLTA Live, which was the online version of VOLTA Football fromFIFA 20, as well as PlayStyles inEA Sports FC 24.
On 24 May 2018, the "World Cup Mode" was announced to be released on 31 May 2018. Two new game modes were introduced, Vs Com FIFA World Cup and Vs User 16 Tournaments. The group stage mode is against computer, while the knockout stage mode are against other players.[10]
This "World Cup Mode" was returned on 31 October 2022 following2022 FIFA World Cup.
When the game was renamed as EA Sports FC Online, the mode was renamed as "UEFA Euro Mode" on 31 May 2024 followingUEFA Euro 2024.
In league mode, the player selects a club and play the league in which that club belongs. It is a classic content that has existed since its previous work.[11]
House Rules is a mode that firstly appeared in a 2019 roster update. This mode was similar to the same name mode that firstly appeared inFIFA 19, in which it offer unique and customizable match types with various rule alterations, including "No Rules", "Survival", "Long Range", "First to...", and "Headers & Volleys". These modes allow players to tailor their gameplay experience with custom win conditions, scoring rules, and even the removal of standard game mechanics like offsides and fouls.
VOLTA Live is a street/futsal football mode that firstly appeared in a 2020 roster update. This mode was the multiplayer version of VOLTA Football that firstly appeared inFIFA 20.
While the VOLTA Football was replaced by Rush Mode sinceEA Sports FC 25, the VOLTA Live mode was still retained in the latest update of EA Sports FC Online.
As of 2022,FIFA Online 4 is the fifth-most popularEsport in South Korea.[12]