EA Sports FC Introduces Women Players to Ultimate Team
EA Sports FC’s Ultimate Team mode now includes women players, with some players expressing concern that the entire mode should be separate, while others are welcoming the move and suggesting that male players should also be integrated into women’s teams. The non-FIFA entry in EA’s football series has attracted some controversy, but EA’s staff and players are united in welcoming the gender inclusivity in the sport game.
A number of top football players have been integrated into EA Sports FC, including Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong and Juventus’s Gwladys Bonne. But the introduction of women players to Ultimate Team has attracted criticism from some players, who suggest that men and women should be separated in the fantasy mode.
EA’s John Shepherd, an executive producer, explains that the developer has introduced male and female players to Ultimate Team because of its commitment to women’s football. “At EA we believe in bringing people together around football and playing a role in growing women’s football around the world,” Shepherd says.
“We’ve seen a lot of discussion about women players being added to Ultimate Team and I want to share my thoughts on the subject. I want to be clear – we are committed to integrating women players into FIFA 20. It’s the right thing to do and has been a priority for us.
“But I also want to talk about fantasy football, because I think there’s a lot of misconceptions around this topic. The concept of fantasy football has always allowed for imaginary line-ups and player combinations. So why wouldn’t it include women players?”
Shepherd says that EA wants to be a “welcoming place” and emphasises that Ultimate Team allows for players to build their dream teams through a mix of different nationalities, leagues, and clubs.
“It doesn’t matter what you look like or where you’re from – we want everyone playing and enjoying our games,” Shepherd continues. “For some people, that means playing the best players in the world like Kylian Mbappe playing with all the Icons. But for others, that means mixing men and women together to build the best team.
“We have a commitment to growing women’s football and we also want the game and the EA Sports FC brand to be welcoming to everybody. So Ultimate Team is the perfect place for that.”
Another EA staffer, senior producer Sam Rivera, reiterates the point that Ultimate Team is a fantasy mode and compares it to not seeing “top players like Frenkie and Gwladys playing with all the Icons.” Rivera says that male players will still have “certain advantages” in areas like height and weight, but that elements such as agility will also be taken into account to create a level playing field.
“We’re excited to see how the women players are performing in the game and we’re committed to supporting them and making sure they’re balanced and fun to play with,” Rivera says.
EA Sports FC will be present in many footballing events, including the women’s World Cup. The developer says it will use its experiences of the game’s first year to continue to support and grow women’s football.
Despite some initial criticism around the game’s cover art and CG trailer, EA Sports FC appears to be free of serious competition in the virtual sport, and its commitment to women’s football is seen as a positive step towards fairness and inclusivity.
If you’re a player who refuses to buy the game due to the integration of male and female players in Ultimate Team, Rivera says, “Maybe you should go outside and play real football.”
Check out everything you need to know about the upcoming EA Sports FC 2.
