Official FIFA 12 reveal, details

By Robert Purchese Published 27 May, 2011

"Revolutionary not evolutionary."

EA has formally announced FIFA 12, "a revolutionary not evolutionary" next step for the series.

The crux of the "transformation" stems from a Player Impact Engine that EA has been beavering away at for two years.

"The Player Impact Engine processes decisions continuously in real-time at every point of contact on a player's body to create an infinite variety of natural and believable outcomes in every collision," EA explained.

These physics also apply to injuries, as the game analyses "the force of the collision and impact on the body". Send a non-fully recovered player out at your own peril.

We've already seen the results of the Player Impact Engine in a leaked FIFA 12 video.

However, the Impact Engine will only power the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game. FIFA 12 will also be released on PC, Wii, PS2, 3DS, PSP and the iOS trinity of platforms.

Complimenting the Impact Engine will be precision dribbling for tight control, tactical defending and pro player intelligence. The latter bestows rudimentary personalities upon footballers. Kaka will apparently be "more likely - and quicker - to pick out a run from a teammate farther away than a player with poorer vision".

Elsewhere, the Career mode will expand to tell "real-world storylines" that involve player morale, on-pitch form and league position.

There's a "brand new", customisable menu system tailored towards your choice of arena player, Virtual Pro and favourite club.

Matches gain a "real-world broadcast look and feel", "dramatically improved lighting", "more authentic crowds" and a new default camera angle.

On PS3, up to seven people can play FIFA 12 together offline. On Xbox 360, that number is four.

Online, up to 22 people can play FIFA 12 together in full 11 vs. 11 matches.

FIFA 12 and the Player Impact Engine.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (49) Latest comment 12 months ago

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  • andywilkie35 #1 1 year ago

    A new FIFA game?! Fucking hell, I've been waiting ages for this!

  • Merlinho #2 1 year ago

    Does this spell the end of players holding the pressure button and knocking my lightforward on his back, then stamping on his head?

  • geeza2020 #3 1 year ago

    "revolutionary not evolutionary"

    i dont believe you

  • sfp_noodle #4 1 year ago

    "Formally announced" not "formerly announced" Mr. Rob Purchese. You tend to make that mistake quite a lot these days.

  • freedumb #5 1 year ago

    'precision dribbling for tight control, tactical defending and pro player intelligence.'

    Already in PES 2011.

    The new real time physics engine sounds good, but when it comes down to it, its primarily an animation, not really a gameplay thing. They need to change a lot more than that to better PES.

    I still can't feel that much of a difference in stats on the pitch, whereas player individuality has been a hallmark of PES, even more so in the latest version.
    Edited by freedumb at 27/05/11 @ 14:20

  • Deckard1 #6 1 year ago

    One of the few games that actually massively improves each year. Looking forward to it.

    And they bettered pes some time ago dumb.
    Edited by Deckard1 at 27/05/11 @ 14:20

  • Darren #7 1 year ago

    I'm disappointed to read that the PC version will again not be identical feature-wise to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions? :(

    Why?

    It's not like the machine, even a mid-range one, cannot handle the engine as FIFA 11 was absolutely brilliant on the PC and terrific fun to play but being the first "proper" version with the current gen engine I was willing to forgive the omissions but there really is no excuse for this year.

  • leemorgan978 #8 1 year ago

    We can only hope that they take the ANY option out of Pro clubs because it doesnt belong there tbh.
    Looking good so far.

  • freedumb #9 1 year ago

    If they bettered it in terms of being an easy pick up and play, pressure mad, through-ball-and score arcade game, then you're right.

    But as a football sim, tactically and realistically PES beats and Decks it in every respect. It is much (Deck)harder to get into and master, hence why a lot of people think it is crap, like the difficulty of PES 5.
    Edited by freedumb at 27/05/11 @ 14:25

  • Deckard1 #10 1 year ago

    That was true about 5 years ago dumb.... not so much now unfortunately.

  • Lee_Morris #11 1 year ago

    New menus and improved crowds are greatly needed. I never got into 11 like I did 10. I must have easily put over 100 hours in with that game. PS Come on the Town for sunday.

  • andijames #12 1 year ago

    @freedumb

    player individuality is fantastic in PES to be fair but unfortunately in this generation it has lacked everywhere else whereas FIFA has took massive strides forwards. PES is, unfortunately, starting to look dated now with the cheating rubber-banded AI and lack of animations/true flow to games.

  • freedumb #13 1 year ago

    andijames Pes 2011 transformed the animation system completely and IMO the players look and move more realistically than FIFA's hunchbacked players. Fifa's animation transitions are smoother and PES still has to improve in that respect,but I'm not really sure you can rate FIFA''s AI as being superior. PES feels and plays more like real football, especially if you mess with wealth of tactical options available.

    The only strides forwards FIFA has really taken is in animations (on the pitch), if you look beneath the surface and the gloss, there is no way it even has the depth of a PES game, especially PES 2011.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #14 1 year ago

    Formally not formerly - blush

  • HL706 #15 1 year ago

    *IF* they fix the lag/server issues, fix career mode and stop linking height to pace (Usain Bolt's a big lad - why can't my player in FIFA be a big lad with a bit of pace?) and generally sort out all the broken parts of the game (unlocking accomplishments and then losing them, opposition players taking control of your team, 10 second button lag) then I'll buy it.

    However, none of this will actually happen, and if anything we'll get 15 second button lag and be told it's all our fault for having crap ISP's etc..

    Yeah I'm not going to buy it until I can guage the community reaction to it.

  • Xs1ght #16 1 year ago

    @andijames couldn't agree more. This year was the first time ever I REALLY preferred FIFA to PES. I want to go back to PES, but with the look of FIFA these days I'm finding it hard to even consider buying PES. Well played FIFA!

  • HyperTails #17 1 year ago

    Dear EA

    Please don't put that Manchester United scum on the front cover again. Or any member of Manchester United. Or Chelsea.

    Thanks

  • ZizouFC #18 1 year ago

    Does this mean players will actually get injured in Career Mode now?

  • MrChuckles #19 1 year ago

    I'm still in the group of players who can win on medium, but have more trouble as it gets up to top difficulty.

    I'd like a football game where you do something other than press and hold 'jostle' with a 'sprint' and maybe 'call other defender' when defending. The last game i actually controlled a player and did tackles without constantly getting a red or yellow card was Sensible Soccer on the Amiga... :s

  • Trigga_Tybalt #20 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 15:43:01 23-02-2012

  • QotSAfan #21 1 year ago

    Think you are on your own here freedumb. Also, PES is easily the game that has the more arcade leanings. It is always a massive goalfest whenever I play it. Whereas FIFA tends to be more about a midfield battle and some seldom breaks, like real football.

    Also, don't be mistaking FIFA's accessability for dumbing down. It most certainly isn't.

  • IkariW #22 1 year ago

    Has to be said though, that 'Impact Engine' malarky does look the business.... :) Hope it works well during gameplay!

  • andijames #23 1 year ago

    @freedumb

    PES is tactically a great game and in other ways superior to FIFA (replays are fantastic, lighting, league AI etc) but like my friend says if you're 1-0 up with 10 minutes to go you might as well put the pad down. Whatever you do (try to clear the ball, straight pass) it just doesn't work it's like it is trying to make every game you play a close game and i'm sorry football is not like that. Sometimes you sneak a 1-0 win sometimes you thump someone 5-0 but it's down to decisions you make. Not down to AI that thinks it knows better than you.

    That's my major gripe with PES. That and the movement still feels like it's based upon a 8 direction axis.

  • cianchristopher #24 1 year ago

    I hope they put someone other than Rooney on the cover - he's been on the cover for the last five years.

  • RodHull #25 1 year ago

    Pah. The only footie game I'm interested in is Kick Off 2012. Tell Dino Dini to hurry up and release it.

  • TechnicPuppet #26 1 year ago

    Online, up to 22 people can play FIFA 12 together in full 11 vs. 11 matches...in which 5 players will quit from each team before the game starts, at least one player from each team will only be trying to score OG's, every player including the goalie thinks they are strikers and the only three buttons that work are slide tackle, run and shoot.(pass, lob, through ball, cross, stand up tackle etc disabled to increase the realism)

  • jablonski #27 1 year ago

    "revolutionary not evolutionary"

    One new feature makes it revolutionary?

  • Mkwone #28 1 year ago

    Elsewhere, the Career mode will expand to tell "real-world storylines" that involve player morale, on-pitch form and league position.

    Is there a Ryan Giggs hot coffee mini game?

  • thedaveeyres #29 1 year ago

    Smell my cheese.

  • Bmovie #30 1 year ago

    Great, FIFA12 PC will be infact FIFA11 then.

  • jonthepymm #31 1 year ago

    'Elsewhere, the Career mode will expand to tell "real-world storylines" that involve player morale, on-pitch form and league position.'

    Real world storylines like corruption among senior FIFA executives?! :-)

  • KimboDice #32 1 year ago

    Milk the cow the best way you know how.

  • SpaceMonkey77 #33 1 year ago

    Sounds good but there's still more I want added. I want a more varied weather control system, allowing for random weather changes during a game. Also like to see the ref get decisions wrong and maybe overturn them.

  • Redflooch #34 1 year ago

    "revolutionary not evolutionary" that was the catch line for BRINK

  • Redflooch #35 1 year ago

    "revolutionary not evolutionary" that was the catch line for BRINK

  • ninjasinthesnow #36 1 year ago

    So for the first few games all I'm going to be doing is fouling people. badly.

    And when I see it working in game I might be a bit more impressed
    Edited by ninjasinthesnow at 27/05/11 @ 17:44

  • Afro_Matt #37 1 year ago

    I think aswell as the impact engine one of the things they need most is simply a better matchday astmosphere involving chants, alternative commentary, lifelike 3d crowds, flags and colours and crowd reactions. That would make the game sooooo much more awesome. Hopefully they implement some of these when they "Matches gain a 'real-world broadcast look and feel'"

  • ninjasinthesnow #38 1 year ago

    So for the first few games all I'm going to be doing is fouling people. badly.

  • layleeloo #39 1 year ago

    I don't think this series will see anything revolutionary at any point in the near future, if at all. The biggest change and improvement was the 360 control scheme which made the game vastly greater but even then it was hardly revolutionary. I like both football franchisees, but can't see any major improvement happening ever, just minor tweaks here and there

  • OriginalSpamcat #40 1 year ago

    @thedaveeyres

    I hereby award you +1 internets for this reference. Use it wisely.

    And no-one else picked up on this. *sigh*

  • Haunted_Tree #41 1 year ago

    Man kicks ball ...

  • Reaver_v1 #42 1 year ago

    Man Shoots Gun...
    Man Swings Sword...
    Man Drives Car...

    Man Plays Game... Don't throw stones from your glass house.

    Anyway, looks interesting. Its needed a new impact engine for a while. Nothing worse than tackling a player only to have him trip you on the way out and not get a foul for it. The advantage mechanic needs work and the players need a touch more realism. Not every player performs perfectly every game so more more spontaneity would be a plus. And I swore I wouldn't buy it this year.

  • milki-tea #43 1 year ago

    ONE QUESTION:

    IS THAT TWAT ANDY GRAY IN OR OUT......

    *crosses fingers hes out*

  • hiddenranbir #44 1 year ago

    Strange choice to not give this new engine thing to the PC, which is now standard multicore and other shit so can easily handle fifa stuff and thensome.

    Really strange since they made a big deal about the last version being feature-same as consoles after the crap with fifa 10...are they intentionally wanting another backlash!?

  • Cherub007 #45 1 year ago

    Gotta be honest, I'm dreading this impact thing. I reckon they'll fuck it up big style straight out of the box and it will be tweaked - but not fixed - around January 2012. Hope I'm wrong but 2011 hasn't filled me with much confidence.

  • Zizou97 #46 1 year ago

    What about the ability to import Career/Be a pro from FIFA 11? Come on EA Sports!

  • Xs1ght #47 1 year ago

    The name FIFA just sounds dirty and corrupt now. Can't they call it EA Soccer 12? Or, as i'm English, EA Footballnotsoccerbecauseit'sfootballandnotsoccer 12

  • nasanu #48 12 months ago

    All I ask is that they test it and promise to patch it when it needs it. Still bitter about the horrid and left that way Fifa 10.

  • Ali360 #49 12 months ago

    i agree with xs1ght. i thought only iran was corrupt in football. but now the virus is going all over. fifa shouldve listened to england and delayed the elections, even if no one would still step up as a candidate, i would. i wont let my favourite thing on earth become corrupt and ruined.