EA FC 25: Ultimate Team Changes Could Encourage More Rivals Play Over Squad Battles

EA Sports has recently unveiled Pitch Notes detailing significant changes to game modes in EA FC 25 Ultimate Team. The developers outlined the revamped rewards system for popular modes like Squad Battles, Rivals, and UT Champions, alongside important updates to pack offerings and the number of games needed to reap these benefits.

The most significant alterations regarding match requirements have been made to Squad Battles and Rivals. EA Sports has reduced the number of Squad Battles games that contribute to your progression from 32 to just 14 per week. Conversely, the number of Rivals wins necessary to unlock top-tier rewards has increased from 7 to 15 in EA FC 25 Ultimate Team.

Shift from Squad Battles to Rivals in EA FC 25 Ultimate Team

EA Sports has positioned Rivals as “your everyday destination for online competitive play”in EA FC 25 Ultimate Team.

The changes have been highlighted in the Pitch Notes (Image via EA Sports)

First introduced in FIFA 18, Squad Battles has undergone gradual tweaks over the years. Though the amount of games needed and rewards have seen updates, the mode’s core structure remains largely unchanged. In contrast, Rivals has experienced significant transformations since its debut in FIFA 19.

The new rewards system is particularly appealing, as 15-win rewards for Elite Rivals include:

75,000 Ultimate Team Coins
Two Tradeable 85+ Player Picks (Pick 1 of 4)
Untradeable 75 Gold Rare Players Pack
Tradeable 50 Gold Rare Players Pack
Tradeable Mega Pack
Two Untradeable 83+ TOTW Player Packs

With substantial enhancements to Rivals and Squad Battles losing importance due to the decreased game requirement, it’s clear that EA Sports is favoring the former. This shift is expected, as online competitive gameplay is the cornerstone of Ultimate Team, offering the greatest challenges and rewards.

Nevertheless, with only 14 games required for Squad Battles, it still presents an attractive option for players eager to obtain stellar players early on in EA FC 25.

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