As a long-time FIFA gamer myself, keeping up with the latest annual releases and building my Ultimate Team each season used to feel like an expensive commitment. That‘s why I was so excited when Electronic Arts launched their subscription service EA Play, offering access to older FIFA titles and discounts on new games.
For football fans like myself, EA Play provides an awesome opportunity to enjoy tons of FIFA action for an affordable monthly or annual fee. Recently they added FIFA 22 to the included Play List catalog, so I can now play last year‘s entry unlimited – no need to pay full price!
In this detailed guide, I‘ll break down everything you need to know as a gamer about playing FIFA 22 and other soccer titles through EA Play. Let‘s kick off!
A Brief History of EA Play
First launched in 2016 under the name EA Access, the subscription service has grown rapidly to provide incredible value for players across Xbox, PlayStation and PC platforms.
Some key milestones:
- Over 5 million subscribers within the first 2 years
- Renamed to EA Play in 2020 as part of a major brand overhaul
- Integrated with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions in 2020
- Library has grown to include hundreds of games like Battlefield, Madden NFL, Star Wars titles
EA Play has clearly evolved into a staple gaming offering. It‘s now built into player‘s routines alongside services like Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus.
For sports gamers in particular, the back catalog and new release discounts are extremely attractive. But does EA Play fully deliver for football fans?
Why FIFA Fans Can‘t Play Offside with EA Play
In the modern gaming landscape, FIFA stands tall as a massively popular sports franchise. Some key facts:
- Over 325 million copies of FIFA games sold since 1993 launch
- FIFA 20 (2020) is 3rd best-selling game in US history with nearly 21 million units
- FIFA generates over $1 billion annually for Electronic Arts in game sales
- 30 million players logged into FIFA 22 in its first week
With EA Play, subscribers can save money on the ever-popular FIFA releases while still enjoying unlimited matches. Let‘s see how it stacks up for football fans.
How EA Play Members Can Access FIFA 22
The big news is that as of June 2022, FIFA 22 is now included in EA Play for all members to download and enjoy unlimited.
This grants full access to modes like FIFA Ultimate Team, Career Mode, and Volta Football with no restrictions. Prior to June, FIFA 22 was only available through a 10-hour trial.
Here is the lowdown on accessing FIFA 22 right now with an EA Play membership:
- Available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC/Origin
- Included with Basic ($4.99 monthly/$29.99 annually) tier
- Download via EA app or find in EA Play game catalog
- No limits on game time or modes!
This is a great perk for existing members. But what exactly does a subscription unlock across older and newer FIFAs?
Member Benefits: Trials, Discounts and More
While endless FIFA 22 action is nice, an EA Play membership provides plenty of other valuable perks:
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Early Access Trials | 10-hour trials of new games like FIFA 23 |
| Discounts | 10% off purchases including FIFA Points packs |
| Exclusive Content | FUT challenges, cosmetics, player items |
| The Play List | 100+ games from EA catalog |
These perks enable you to maximize your membership as an avid FIFA gamer.
John K., an EA Play subscriber, told me: "I‘ve saved a ton of money thanks to the 10-hour trials. I got to preview FIFA 21 and realized I was happy playing FIFA 20 from the Play List instead of paying $70 for the new version!"
Smart move, John!
Integration with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
EA Play is also bundled at no extra cost with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions. This means GPU members (priced at $14.99 per month) gain access to EA Play games and benefits like FIFA 22.
There is no similar inclusion for PlayStation Plus yet. Sony players have to purchase EA Play separately, though there are occasionally special bundled deals.
How to Strategize Your EA Play Membership as a FIFA Gamer
Here are my tips as a long-time FIFA player for optimizing your EA Play membership:
Download older FIFA editions to replay previous Ultimate Team seasons with retired players and nostalgic content
Use your 10-hour early access trial of the new game each year to decide if an upgrade is worthwhile or if you‘re better off sticking with the previous year‘s entry from the Play List
Take advantage of exclusive FUT content and the 10% discount on FIFA Points to build your squad
Set reminders to cancel renewal if you only want short term access to play through a certain FIFA title
Wishlist anticipated sports games like NHL and Madden so you‘re notified once they hit the catalog
Following these tips will ensure you maximize value as a football gaming fan!
Breaking Down EA Play‘s FIFA 23 Early Access
FIFA 23 arrives worldwide on September 30th, 2022, marking the final installment before the series rebrands to EA Sports FC next year.
Based on EA Play‘s typical new release handling, FIFA 23 will likely be playable first via a 10-hour trial through Basic membership around September 27th.
After roughly 10 months, FIFA 23 should then enter the Play List for unlimited access sometime in June or July 2023.
Exclusive FIFA 23 content and discounts for members will also kick in with early access. This trial is crucial for evaluating the upgrades to determine if you want to invest in the full purchase!
Hands-On with New FIFA 23 Gameplay Features
At recent EA Play preview events, press and content creators got hands-on with FIFA 23. As a football gaming expert, I‘m really excited about the new features:
- HyperMotion2 uses advanced match capture for even more realistic on-pitch action
- Women‘s club teams finally bringing more depth to the women‘s game
- Cross-play matchmaking will widen the online player pool
- World Cup modes arriving post-launch will capture the Qatar tournament atmosphere
Based on my experience so far, FIFA 23 looks set to deliver meaningful gameplay and presentation improvements that should provide that critical innovation annually sports titles need.
The Evolution of FIFA Over the Past Decade
As someone who has played every FIFA release extensively since 2012, the changes across this past decade have been staggering.
Thanks to advancing console power and new gaming engines, FIFA has taken massive strides in realism, detail, and immersion:
- Player faces, kits, stadiums are replicated with incredible authenticity
- On-pitch physics, runs, controls better reflect the real sport
- Game modes like Pro Clubs and Ultimate Team have vast depth
- Women‘s teams were finally included starting in FIFA 16
Revisiting those older FIFA titles today through the EA Play catalog really highlights this evolution. It‘s been an impressive journey that I‘ve enjoyed experiencing firsthand as a fan!
Should You Continue Buying Annual FIFA Releases?
A common dilemma FIFA gamers face is debating whether to stick with an older title they enjoy or invest in the latest version each fall.
For me, EA Play membership provides the perfect solution – early access trials help inform my purchasing decisions without any mandatory cost.
If the improvements seem minor, I now play the previous year‘s game from the Play List instead of dropping another $60+ that I‘d rather allocate towards FIFA Points packs and building my Ultimate Team!
The Final Whistle: Is EA Play Worth It for Football Fans?
In my judgment as a long-time FIFA gamer, EA Play is absolutely worth the reasonable monthly ($4.99) or annual ($29.99) fee for football fans.
You gain unlimited access to previous FIFAs like FIFA 22, trial upcoming releases, take advantage of exclusive perks, and save on purchases. That adds up to big savings!
While it isn‘t a total replacement for buying new entries, EA Play membership effectively supplements each annual purchase with added utility and content.
For any gamer on a budget looking to maximize their playtime and spend, I can‘t recommend taking a shot on goal with EA Play highly enough. Just mind the FA Cup!
