Has Qatar 2022 been announced by EA?

EA Sports dominate the gaming circuit when it comes to sports and their most popular sporting game is probably FIFA which focuses around football. The gaming series is incredibly addictive with different gaming modes to keep you entertained for hours on end. However, one instalment that fans are eagerly anticipating is that of the World Cup edition. So, will EA be announcing this soon considering the World Cup is later this year?

FIFA was first released in 1993 and they have released a game yearly since then. Obviously, the graphics and gameplay has advanced significantly due to the improvement in technology. Now the current edition is FIFA 22 and full of features that would have seemed alien to the programmers in 1993.

FIFA has battled alongside the likes of Sensible Soccer, Pro Evolution Soccer, and a host of other simulation games where you in control of the player over the many consoles that have existed. It has reinvented itself each year to avoid being overtaken in their specific football genre. One of the ways they have done this is by creating innovations such as Ultimate Team, Pro Clubs and Career Mode. All these platforms have attracted such interest that players will live stream them on twitch and start e-sports teams around the game. You can even bet on the game with new betting sites UK; it proved hugely popular during the pandemic.

What is the World Cup edition?

However, the regular edition of FIFA is not the only one EA do. Previously they enjoyed success with the series FIFA Street but alongside it they have released a series of World Cup editions. In 1998 it was the Road to World Cup and since then in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. However, in 2018 they only released the World Cup, hosted by Russia, as a DLC rather than an individual game like had done previously.

The games have been a huge success with fans taking on the ultimate international challenge to win the biggest prize in world football, the World Cup. EA announced that they will include the Qatar 2022 World Cup in FIFA. However, it is unsure if it will be included in the current 22 version or the 23 version with the World Cup being held in November later this year.

Why do players like the World Cup version?

The ultimate challenge for many footballers is to win the World Cup with their country and if oyu are given the chance to even control players and win it on a simulated game, it is pretty exciting. The DLC update in 2018 was a huge hit because it was released at the end of May, just before the World Cup started in June. It brings more excitement to the player as they approach the World Cup as a fan.

The World Cup version has all the up to date kits for the tournament and the squads that will be going to the tournament so you can imagine you are the manager of the national team advancing throughout the tournament dealing with team selection.

EA obviously do not forget about their most profitable function of the game and that is Ultimate Team. In 2018, they released cards for the players of the tournament and even updated them to how these players were performing.

Will it be a standalone game?

As with the last World Cup instalment it will more than likely be included as a free DLC so people can get the correct teams from the tournament and the correct stadiums. Especially with Qatar being a smaller nation the stadiums will not be included in the game already.

In 2018, Croatia finished as runners up in the World Cup, but they were not included on the regular version of FIFA only the World Cup DLC. The fact that it will be a DLC will fit with the way FIFA 22 was purchased because digital downloads grew 37%. Overall, 77% of FIFA 22’s opening week sales were via digital stores.

Could the DLC not even be added?

It is no secret that the Qatar 2022 World Cup is showered with controversy. With human right issues being flagged EA could be tempted to not release the World Cup version and stick with the regular version of the game. It would be a bold move given that EA and FIFA are closely linked.

So, keep your eyes peeled for any more announcements as when and if the Qatar 2022 DLC will be added to the game.

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