Cristiano Ronaldo-supported UFL is aiming to release a PC version this summer followed by a mobile edition next year, revealed the CEO of Strikerz, the studio behind the soccer video game. Capitalizing on a slowdown at industry leader Electronic Arts, the free-to-play game, launched in December for Sony's PlayStation 5 and Microsoft's Xbox Series consoles, has already amassed over 3 million downloads.
Due to Strikerz not having rights to use official team kits, it partnered with professional footballers' union FIFPro to include popular players. I would expect the PC version to be released between the end of spring and summer, around May to August, stated Strikerz founder Eugene Nashilov in an interview with Reuters.
This game is seen as a potential alternative to EA's long-standing FC, previously known as "FIFA" games, which have dominated the soccer gaming market for more than two decades with annual releases and licensing deals. In the coming months, possibly February or March, we are planning to conduct an alpha test on PC, Nashilov confirmed, underscoring the studio's focus on unique features tailored to the PC platform.
UFL's standout feature is its free-to-play model, a strategy Nashilov intends to maintain, with monetization primarily revolving around paid downloadable content like a career mode. In contrast, EA's "FC 25" is priced at $70 in the U.S.
The studio has outlined multiple updates this year to enhance game functions like the "reputation" currency used for player acquisitions. Unlike EA's yearly releases, UFL adopts a live-service approach, providing frequent updates for new content, bug fixes, and gameplay adjustments.
The annual release cycle of EA's soccer games contributed to the underperformance of the latest title, Nashilov suggested, a sentiment echoed by gamers advocating for more substantial gameplay revisions from EA. Nevertheless, with an estimated 18 million to 20 million players engaging in EA's online multiplayer mode Ultimate Team, as per Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter, EA remains a formidable force in the industry.
Although user reviews for UFL have been lackluster, with a user score of 3.4 out of 10 on review platform Metacritic primarily citing sluggish movement mechanics, "FC 25" fares even lower with a user rating of 2.6.
Soccer icon Ronaldo, who has been involved in the project for over two years alongside a group of investors, also holds a minority stake in the game.