Fifa 22: Release date, demo info, plus all the latest

With the 2021/22 football season now well underway, video game fans are looking forward to the latest release of the FIFA series.

EA Sports have already announced a number of new features and improvements for FIFA 22, with a release date edging ever closer.

Here’s what we know so far about the game, and what we could still expect:

Demo & game release date

FIFA 21 was the first time in many years that a full demo was not made available prior to the game releasing.

EA Sports stated they wanted to “focus our development team’s time on delivering the best full game experience”.

Whether we see a demo for FIFA 22 is still unknown.

In terms of a release date for the full game, we traditionally see a mid to late September release, although this date was pushed back into October last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This time around, FIFA 22 will release on October 1. If there is to be a demo, it’s likely we’ll see it released around two weeks before that October 1 date.

New-gen console availability

FIFA 22 will release on the newest-gen consoles, making it the first FIFA available for those consoles on release day.

Last year, EA announced a scheme titled ‘Dual Entitlement’, which allowed players who bought the game on PS4 to be able to ‘move’ their save game data over to PS5.

That scheme will be in place again next year – although only for players who buy the Ultimate Edition of the game. A small fee will be charged to do the same for those who buy the Standard Edition.

New career mode features

FIFA 22 will see an array of new features introduced to the game.

The most eye-catching improvements can be seen in manager and player career mode.

When it comes to manager career, players can now create their own club, customise its kit, crest, stadium and more, and place it into any of the playable leagues available on FIFA 22.

Player career has undergone an overhaul. Players are now given all-new Match Objectives, whilst player growth has also changed significantly.

Created players can improve via obtaining match rewards and training bonuses and completing objectives, which in turn allows them to accumulate skill points. They can then be used to obtain traits/stat boosts via the player skill tree – a system familiar to Pro Clubs players.

Players can also choose a number of perks as they progress, in three categories – chance creation, attacking support and defensive cover.

New Ultimate Team features

The Division Rivals system has been revamped for FIFA 22. There’s a new seasonal progression system in place, including win streaks and new ranks.

For FUT Champions, there will be a FUT Champions Play-Offs tournament. Players who earn enough points over the week will progress to the Finals, which takes place each weekend.

There’s also the introduction of FUT Heroes, which EA’s official website describes as “new items that represent the unforgettable moments that turned them into fan favourites“.

Each Hero has unique league-specific chemistry, related to their own hero moment.

Players confirmed so far include Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Premier League), Diego Milito (Serie A), David Ginola (Ligue 1), Freddie Ljungberg (Premier League) and Mario Gomez (Bundesliga).

Featured Image Credit: EA SPORTS