FIFA 14: What’s new and where are the next-gen versions?

EA has announced FIFA 14, the next version of EA Sports’ smash hit football sim due for release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC this autumn.

This year’s game is said to focus on “the emotion of scoring great goals” and introduces a new ‘Pure Shot’ feature to offer players even greater control over their shots on goal, leading to goals that feel more satisfying and rewarding than ever before.

Improved ball physics now means players are able to perform dipping shots, knuckle shots and rising shots, with the player able to automatically adjust his stride and approach angle to make cleaner contact with the ball.

Improvements to FIFA 13’s Player Impact Engine also appear to have been implemented, with players able to tussle for space before receiving the ball, and midfielders given the option to “dictate the tempo of the match” by protecting the ball while dribbling.

FIFA 13’s First Touch Control now seems to have extended to dribbling, too, meaning less skillful players will struggle to maintain perfect control over the ball while dribbling it up the pitch. And, thanks to improvements made to animation, attackers will be able to turn quicker when going one-on-one with defenders, letting them “utilize quick, explosive cuts and turns” to beat defenders and knock the ball in the back of the net.

And finally, Career Mode has been given a bit of an overhaul as well, with a new hub that delivers “easy navigation” and “fewer interruptions”, and a new ‘Global Scouting Network’ that lets users search for new players throughout the season.

“Our goal as game developers is we want to be the best video game – not just the best football or sport video game,” FIFA 14’s producer Sebastian Enrique told VideoGamer.com while outlining the changes made to this year’s game.

Despite hints from ex-EA CEO John Riccitiello suggesting that this year’s FIFA could also be on the way to next-gen platforms, however, EA Sports has yet to announce a PlayStation 4 or next Xbox version of FIFA 14.

But when quizzed about the next-gen versions of the game, Enrique suggested that he was as much in the dark as the rest of the world.

“I’m told whatever you are too,” he said. “What I know is, I worked on FIFA for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, and I would be dishonouring or being a traitor to my peers if I don’t create the best game that I can create.”

Neither Wii U or PlayStation Vita versions of the game have been announced either, despite FIFA 13 releasing on both formats last year.

Last October, EA Sports suggested to VideoGamer.com that support for future Wii U versions of FIFA would depend on how well the console’s launch goes. Needless to say, it didn’t go very well.

All’s not lost, though: EA told VideoGamer.com this morning that “additional platforms [for FIFA 14] will be revealed in the months ahead”.

An exact release date for FIFA 14 has yet to be announced by EA but, if history’s anything to go by, expect it to hit stores in late September.

VideoGamer.com was given an early look at FIFA 14 last week. For more info, head through here.

Source: EA Press Event/Fact Sheet