FIFA 21 Will Feature Some Much-Requested Career Mode Features

The players are getting ready to hit the pitch in FIFA 21, and this year, both the solo and multiplayer experience are getting some touch-ups. New info released today about FIFA 21 details some upcoming changes to both the troubled career mode and new co-op features for existing modes.

A reveal trailer posted today highlights the action, showing players jumping in and playing co-op through Volta Squads and FUT Co-op modes. FIFA 21's website detailed these new options, as well as what changes are coming to career mode for solo FIFA players.

For career mode, there's the Interactive Match Sim, which lets you hop in and out of an in-progress match to either influence the action or watch from afar. It reminds me a little of Madden's feature that lets you just play the key moments of a game—critical 3rd downs, Red Zone plays, etc. There's also a revamped growth system, and a new attribute called match sharpness that manages how well players will perform during crucial moments. Do they perform under pressure or choke? You can put the finger on the balance between their sharpness, morale, and fitness in the activity management system.

There's also enhanced opposition AI and new ways to sign players, like making a Loan to Buy offer, as well as new initial starting options. That's all for the career mode players, but over in FUT and Volta, things are getting more multiplayer.

FIFA 21's Ultimate Team will let two players team up and compete in Division Rivals and Squad Battles, as well as complete specific Co-Op Objectives. Also, if you take advantage of the Dual Entitlement program to move from current-gen to next-gen consoles, a FUT Club can transfer from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 or Xbox One to Xbox Series X, over to next-gen and back again. Just make sure you read over the restrictions to make sure you don't strand a FUT Club on one console.

Volta also gets a multiplayer mode called Volta Squads, taking the street-ball sim online with up to three friends or find a team through online matchmaking. While FIFA's usually been a competitive game in my experience, having more ways to play to co-op seems like a positive for the game.

Our impressions of FIFA 20 were that it put a solid foot forward, especially on the pitch. Its biggest issues in the aftermath of launch were the swift death of Volta and career mode issues plaguing its more interesting additions, and this list of additions seem to at least be addressing all those points. We'll learn more throughout August, as FIFA 21 ramps up for an Oct. 9, 2020 launch on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.