Electronic Arts' soccer simulators have long been under scrutiny, and EA Sports FC 25 is no exception. The criticism has been so intense that the developers have taken action with a comprehensive "Gameplay Refresh Update," which introduces over 50 changes to the game mechanics. These updates aim to address core gameplay systems such as assists, shots, goalkeeper play, and defense play. Among the changes, defenders will no longer easily catch up with ball carriers, and gameplay in attack will be smoother, making it easier to move the ball. The frequency of reverse tackles and interceptions by AI has been reduced, and the effectiveness of crossing passes has been significantly lowered. Players will now provide quicker support when playing in familiar roles, and offside detection has been improved for AI-controlled offensive runs. Additionally, the accuracy of normal and aimed shots from outside the penalty area in simple conditions has been slightly enhanced.
Despite these efforts, the initial reception of EA Sports FC 25 was overwhelmingly negative, with only 36% of the 474 player reviews on release being positive. The community has criticized Electronic Arts for what is perceived as greed, along with numerous bugs, crashes, and issues with identifying PlayStation controllers. Furthermore, the game's anti-cheat mechanism has rendered it incompatible with the Steam Deck, adding to the list of grievances.
