EA Sports FC 24
EA Sports FC 24 – an instant hit (EA)

Although it still hasn’t been announced officially, the exact release date of this year’s new football game from EA has been leaked.

Unlike most other sequels, EA tends not to announce the release date of its new football games (previously FIFA but now called EA Sports FC) until relatively close to launch.

The obvious reason for that is that they don’t want to put off anyone from buying this year’s version – EA Sports FC 24 – and with the Euros going on at the moment that’s more true than usual.

However, it’s not hard to guess the date, as it’s almost always late September or early October, and so it is that a new leak has revealed that this year’s game will be out on September 27.

It is technically only a rumour, but it comes from Dealabs’ billbil-kun who has an almost 100% accuracy record, because their sources are from retail and rather than behind the secrets their leaks are almost always simpler release date style information.

They claim that the game will be available in both Standard and Ultimate editions, which also isn’t a surprise, and that if you buy the Ultimate version you can play the game seven days early, making its release date September 20 if you pay more for the more expensive edition.

EA Play subscribers will also get early access but only in the form of a 10-hour trial. All of which is exactly how it worked last year and for the last few years of FIFA.

There’s no information on who the cover star is this year, but the logo has seemingly leaked from a different source and is… very green.

The formats aren’t confirmed yet either, but according to Dealabs the game is being released on PlayStation 4, which also makes an Xbox One version likely – but not guaranteed.

Ditching the FIFA name and going it alone seemed a big risk for EA, but it all went off without a hitch for them and EA Sports FC has already been accepted by most fans as basically the same thing with a different name.

Originally, FIFA claimed it was going to develop its own game, to replace the ones EA used to make, but there’s been little sign of that happening so far. Or any sign that FIFA understands just how difficult and expensive a task that will be.

There have been rumours that 2K has picked up the licence, with talk of a Lego football game as well, but so far there’s been little evidence to back that up.

EA Sports FC 24 Euro 2024 asset (Electronic Arts)
EA Sports FC 24 is selling particularly well at the moment (EA)

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