FIFA 21 PS5 Review: A Pass Forward

FIFA 21‘s new PlayStation 5 upgrade gives players a look into how the world-famous EA Sports franchise will play on the recently released hardware. FIFA 21 was a release filled with minor updates that improved upon its predecessor without wowing audiences; similarly, the PS5 upgrade is better without being revolutionary, and more of a look to the future than a definitive, must-buy edition of one of the world’s most popular sports games.

The most obvious improvement that can be brought by a new console is improved graphics, and while FIFA 21 doesn’t have the jaw-dropping visuals of games like Demon’s Souls, superior lighting and animations add a nice sheen to proceedings. There are new little details that are welcome, such as more passionate celebrations from fans and players when a late winner or equalizer goes in, and shouting between players. Pre-game cutscenes show fans filling up the stands in place of the old loading screen minigames, made obsolete since hitting “Play Match” to kick-off takes seconds. These graphical updates are subtle for most player models, but shine on the wide shots of arenas. A new camera meant to replicate television broadcasts is jarring at first, but offers a better look at the whole field and is ultimately appreciated.

The new DualSense controller is one of the PS5’s best selling points, and it is used to good effect in FIFA 21. Every step taken is reflected with soft vibrations from the haptic feedback, which match the pace of the player, whether at casual jog or lung-busting sprint. Each pass and touch of the ball is met with a firm buzz that matches its power, and even the referee’s whistle is felt in the hands. Less successful is the use of the adaptive triggers. As a player gets more tired, the sprint and jockey buttons become harder to pull, but it’s a bit too harshly implemented and isn’t quite as immersive as the haptic feedback.

Not many gameplay changes are introduced in FIFA 21 on PS5 despite the upgraded power of the new console. Besides the aforementioned new cutscenes and animations, EA claims that there are improved mechanics when jostling for a ball, but this wasn’t immediately apparent. It does seem to be relatively free of glitches, thanks to an effective patch from last month, although longer playthroughs will certainly turn up some of the odd behaviors and quirks that come with any FIFA game.

There are some issues with how EA handled the PS5 upgrade, however. For one, it will only be available for free until the release of FIFA 22. While a free upgrade is better than nothing, in the wake of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War charging $10 for its upgrade, EA is setting an uncomfortable precedent for those who enjoy sports games but not enough to buy every latest annual release. Transferring saves is also an issue. While online modes like Volta and the financially lucrative Ultimate Team, which EA is essentially acknowledging as an online casino, carry over, single-player career mode saves do not.

FIFA 21 on PS5 is not an entirely new game, but it is undoubtedly a better one. It’s an intriguing glimpse into how EA will handle the new hardware for its flagship sports franchise. Graphics will become more lifelike and the use of the DualSense’s features will become more honed and immersive. Fans will just have to hope that the worrying financial trends and precedents set by this upgrade don’t materialize into something too hard to stomch, because the rest of what’s on offer here is tantalizing. For now, FIFA 21 on the PS5 is the right step forward for the series – it remains to be seen if its next shot will be on target.

FIFA 21 is available now on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

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