FIFA 22 - Big Changes Coming to FUT; Revolution Planned For Division Rivals
FIFA 22 is set to change the face of FUT. The Division Rivals and FUT Champions will undergo a major transformation, and other new features should please most players.
We already know that the Ultimate Team mode in FIFA 22 will have a lot going on. EA has released a trailer showing the new features we'll find there. Get ready for even more competitive opportunities, development, experience customization and a big dose of nostalgia in the form of FUT Heroes.
In a nutshell:
- Division Rivals and FUT Champions modes will get a revamp;
- FUT heroes will influence the gameplay;
- We will get even more customization options;
- The developers will add a co-op mode with random online players.
A more accessible Division Rivals
At the beginning, the creators mentioned the Division Rivals and FUT Champions modes (the two most popular multiplayer competition options). In the former, the progression and reward system will be completely changed. From now on we'll be able to climb the ranks of each division for the entire six-week season. At the end of the season, we'll drop one position down from the previous one. The rewards will be distributed as before, i.e. on a weekly basis and will be based on the number of matches we've played (not won). This way even the weakest players will be able to strengthen their team regularly. In addition, special bonuses (packs, coins, etc.) will be added to our account also at the end of the season.
What's interesting, the creators made sure that better players don't make life difficult for the weaker ones. Until now, they could do this by deliberately dropping down to lower divisions in Rivals in order to complete thematic tasks easier and faster. In FIFA 22 this won't be possible, because after reaching a certain rank we will receive a so-called Checkpoint, which will prevent us from dropping down to a lower level than the one we are currently playing on. There will be several such checkpoints and they will be achieved after winning a certain number of matches.
FUT Champions returns to its roots
As far as FUT Champions is concerned, the organization of the tournament will also change. The championship will be divided into three stages. In the first one we'll have to gain a certain number of points in Rivals (just like now), in the second we'll go to play-offs similar to the tournaments from FIFA 17, and after winning a certain number of matches in these qualifiers, we'll get to the final tournament. The latter will be played on weekends (similar to the current FUT Champions), and the qualifiers will be held during the week. Interestingly, in the finals the creators will enable us to collect the prizes immediately, without having to wait until Thursday for the Division Rivals to end. Which rewards we earn is supposed to be dependent on the points ratio, but we don't yet know how it will be calculated.
Changes in FUT will make the game more interesting
EA has also detailed the FUT Heroes chemistry. It turns out that they will receive green chemistry (almost the highest) with players from a specific league or nationality. If you match a regular player with a FUT Hero from the same country and league, you'll get a light green chemistry (the highest, so-called perfect link). This should make building diverse teams with best chemistry much easier.
Fans of co-op games will be happy to know that they will finally be able to play a match with a randomly selected companion over the network. This online collaboration can greatly facilitate the completion of certain challenges and make the gameplay more interesting.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the stadium customization options that first appeared in FIFA21 will be significantly extended. From now on we will be able to influence even more elements to create a unique arena.
More on FIFA 22 should be revealed in early September. EA promises that we'll see overall player ratings, new icons, and information about the Companion and FUT Web App.
FIFA 22 will hit PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PCs and Google Stadia on October 1, 2021. On Nintendo Switch, we'll play a truncated version called FIFA 22: Legacy Edition. Pre-orders can be placed now, and purchasing the Ultimate Edition will give us early access to the game (starting September 27).
