FC 25: EA Sports’ ongoing struggles with inaccurate women’s player ratings | OneFootball

The end of September meant the arrival of a new EA FC game. For more than a decade now, EA Sports has maintained a monopoly over football games. Hated and adored but seldom ever ignored, most video game and football fans have experienced the franchise in one way or another.

In a watershed moment, this year marks the first season where a women’s Career Mode is possible. Despite having a limited number of teams, you can play through a maximum of 15 seasons. You can either continue the status quo with your side dominating domestically and in Europe or create a new star with a custom story.

Alternatively, you can choose a single player and mould their future career, whatever stage they are at. Or, you can insert yourself into your favourite team to lead them to glory as a player or manager.

While there is certainly a lot to be excited about, it’s also worth mentioning a glaring feature that EA Sports could improve on — the player ratings.

Inconsistent FC 25 player ratings

Unfortunately for FC 25, EA Sports has once again dropped some pretty wide-of-the-mark player ratings. While elite players like Sam Kerr — who conveniently has also been a cover star and EA ambassador — have ratings around 90 that accurately reflect their history and prestige in the game, many players have some arbitrary ratings. (To be honest, I’d even argue Sam Kerr should have had a slight downgrade).

Take Aggie Beever-Jones, for example. She had 11 goals and two assists in the WSL last year for Chelsea as the team dramatically claimed the title. But she has an inadequate 70 overall player rating to start EA Sports FC 25.

Alessia Russo had similar domestic stats — one more goal and two more assists — yet is 15 ratings higher in the Ultimate Team game mode. Granted, you could say Russo is more experienced historically until you realise that Beever-Jones scored more goals last season than any of Russo’s seasons at Manchester United. Is Russo a bigger name overall than Beever-Jones? Yes, at the moment. Should that play into ranking a player? Absolutely not.

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Inaccuracy in Career Mode

The inaccuracy has been a big talking point in Career Mode, too. Kerstin Casparij enjoyed a very solid season at Manchester City, where she has shown all the hallmarks of being an excellent full-back and someone who can improve further. Her ‘reward’? A pretty average 76 rating and a baffling -5 on her potential, down from 85 to 80. For absolutely no legitimate reason other than the fact she had the temerity to get a year older and more experienced.

Rosa Kafaji — one of the biggest new names on the WSL block after her move from BK Häcken to Arsenal — is only 68. According to EA, that puts her on par with how they were ranking Bristol City Women last year. No disrespect to the Robins, but this is someone who has shown extreme pedigree at a young age — not only in the Damallsvesken but also in the Women’s Champions League. Her trajectory points very obviously to a bright future.

These are just a few names. Courtney Brosnan, who was arguably the best keeper in the WSL last year, has somehow barely crept over 70. Elisabeth Terland, after a fantastic year and a big move to Manchester United, has only seen a tiny increase. Gemma Bonner, after a stellar year at Liverpool, still isn’t rated as one of the top centre-backs in the WSL. Erin Cuthbert is still somehow 83 — no change on the previous year — after one of the best seasons you’ll ever see from any midfielder.

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Does social media presence take over?

The list of player inaccuracies has become a significant talking point. In some cases, it seems players have been evaluated based on how many times someone has posted about them on social media. This element has definitely played a massive part with some names who have hugely inflated stats after having pretty underwhelming seasons by their standards. In contrast, it seems lesser names and unsung heroes have just received low ratings because they aren’t as ‘marketable.’

People will be asking, ‘So what? At least we have women’s football in the game.’ While it has certainly been a landmark moment to celebrate, the more intricate details do not reflect the surge in growth of the women’s game. EA isn’t some small indie developer that simply can’t afford to do enough due diligence or research into players.

I would quite happily bet that if you asked any fan who had a strong grasp of the WSL, or any European league for that matter, they would want to change a large amount of the numbers they feel are heavily inaccurate.

More research and care needed

Another popular simulation game, Football Manager 25, launches next year and will bring women’s football into the system for the first time. The big difference? They have spent more than 18 months collating data, hiring experts, and talking to clubs and journalists to gain rounded pictures of players from top to bottom.

Miles Jacobsen, the founder of Sports Interactive, has even openly stated they have delayed introducing it to get it right and give the women’s game the respect it deserves rather than treating the sport as a gimmick.

Women’s football is not here to be shoehorned into something purely so developers can hit new milestones. I’d argue it’s even more insulting to players, fans and family when basic details like dates of birth or preferred foot are incorrect. Or when something as crucial as a player’s primary position is inaccurate.

A great number of these player ratings — certainly in the FC 25 Ultimate Team game mode — will shift and grow as EA pumps out promotions to maximise this game cycle’s microtransactions. It could be suggested that some player ratings are done purely tactically to build hype for future iterations and encourage people, particularly new players, to keep buying the game.

However — especially on the women’s side — it is a real shame that this is yet another year where you are left wondering why things seem so off regarding ratings and whether the women’s game is a main priority in their bigger picture.

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