GC: FIFA 08 gets 5v5 online

By Robert Purchese Published 22 August, 2007

You control one player.

EA has revealed that FIFA 08 on PS3 and 360 will feature a brand new online mode for 10 of you to play at once.

It's called Be A Pro: Online Team, and will let you and four friends take control of one player each from a team - the rest will be handled by AI. A unique camera will then follow you and the action, as you face off against other teams of five from all around the world.

The feature won't be in game when it launches here on 28th September, but is expected to be a free downloadable update around six to eight weeks later.

"At EA Sports our dream is to create a full 11 versus 11 online gameplay experience in which each user will have a set position during the match and train specifically for that position," said Joe Booth, producer of FIFA 08 - echoing his promise to Eurogamer that it would be integrated in the game to sit alongside the World Cup in 2010.

"Be A Pro is the first step in this direction, and now, with the ability to deliver five versus five online gameplay as free downloadable content, we are moving even closer towards the realisation of this dream."

On top of that will be Interactive Leagues, which take all of the points won by supporters of a certain club and compile it in one giant league; alongside weekly in-game podcasts by the developers, plus regular leagues and tournaments you and your friends can set up.

It will all complement the biggest and most coherent FIFA offering to date, promising better physics, controls, tricks, graphics, more teams, video capture and uploads, and lots more.

Pop over to our FIFA 08 gamepage to see all of our coverage.

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.

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

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Comments (42) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • markypants #1 5 years ago

    Looking forward to this. Though I predict utter utter chaos on the pitch.

    Having good players on your friends list is going to be a huge must have with this game.
    Edited by 2 at 22/08/07 @ 13:52

  • Steroyd #2 5 years ago

    awe that means I can't hate Fifa this year. :(

  • PatrickEwing #3 5 years ago

    Is it humanly feasible to have both FIFA and PES, or is that a no go?

  • aldo_14 #4 5 years ago

    Is it humanly feasible to have both FIFA and PES, or is that a no go?

    Unfortunately, the two game boxes would merge into a supermassive black hole, destroying the earth and all humanity.

  • AusFreelancer #5 5 years ago

    As a PES 1-4 fan, FIFA looks like its a definite puchase, can't wait!

    lol @ aldo...you sure can....ever since FIFA photocopied PES's control scheme
    Edited by 1 at 22/08/07 @ 13:57

  • Lebowski #6 5 years ago

    Could be brilliant - giving your mates the 'hair-dryer' for missing a sitter. :-)

  • dsmx #7 5 years ago

    Sounds like such a good idea in theory, then you realize your going to get 5 people always moving forward and leave you with no midfield.

  • espadachin #8 5 years ago

    can oneself and 4 people from your friends list play online co-operatively against the cpu?
    Edited by 1 at 22/08/07 @ 14:05

  • lambtron #9 5 years ago

    's funny that it seems to be FIFA innovating these days and that its PES that seems to have become a tired rehash of last year's effort.

    I used to love PES and I've not touched FIFA in nearly 10 years but this year could change all that.

  • TripSkyway #10 5 years ago

    Cool, looking forward to this.

  • the_sas_man #11 5 years ago

    this will only ever work in a 5 a side game with the goalie being computer controlled leaving only 4 player vs player - that way the game would be far more intense.

    But 11 a side? How boring is that!

    If you get a player as left back you're telling me you just have to wait in defence untill the ball comes to you?! As if! People will behave like a swarm of bees and go 11 up front! It will be madness. And if EA bring in 'areas' in which a player can only go then that takes away both the fun and creativity.

    Good idea in practice, but this idea is doomed to fail (11 a side anyway)

  • Canyarion #12 5 years ago

    I'd prefer a mode with teams of 5 (instead of 11), with a smaller field. Oh maybe 6, because controlling the keeper is probably boring.

    Actually, why not get a rotation system up for who controls the keeper? Just like how you often play soccer with some friends. If somebody's tired, he keeps for a while, after him somebody else, etc.

    Hmm, a real game of soccer might be more fun.

  • Tomo #13 5 years ago

    Same boat as lambtron.

    I could defect this year. PES6 was balls and the short go I had on the 360 FIFA 07 was very niiice.

  • The-Bodybuilder #14 5 years ago

    Although I hate the idea of playing ALONGSIDE the AI, rather than just controlling them (or semi-controlling them), if EA pull this off, then they've won me over.

    I still have a bad after-taste of Pro 6, and the new screenies of pro 08 aren't impressing me much.

  • Sid-Nice #15 5 years ago

    Sounds great; but I'm rather sceptical as neither PES or FIFA have been perfect online.

  • paulf #16 5 years ago

    bagsy not in goal :)

  • The-Bodybuilder #17 5 years ago

    >"Sounds like such a good idea in theory, then you realize your going to get 5 people always moving forward and leave you with no midfield."

    Until you face a team with a midfield, then they destory you.

    Every single thing you can say applies in real life football. And guess what? We still have people that play in position in real life, and you'll get the same in the game too.

    If you enjoy being a defender in real life, so too willl you be in the game (I play left back, central or left mid).

  • QPRHOOPS81 #18 5 years ago

    All good but i can see everyone wanting to be a striker or attacking midfielder. Cant see many people wanting to sit in defence.

  • miiiguel #19 5 years ago

    "Sounds great; but I'm rather sceptical as neither PES or FIFA have been perfect online. "

    360's PES online is very good.

  • QPRHOOPS81 #20 5 years ago

    "If you enjoy being a defender in real life, so too willl you be in the game (I play left back, central or left mid)."

    I play left back in real life but only because its the position im most suited. Due to this being a game i dont have to worry that my real life shooting is crap so can play anywhere i want. Like many i would prefer play an attacking game. Of course there will be some players who want to sit back in defence but i dont think percentage wise there will be that many.

    Guess we will just have to wait and see

  • chiz #21 5 years ago

    You can't polish a turd. PES 08 FTW.

  • AbyssUK #22 5 years ago

    This won't work...

  • dom6918 #23 5 years ago

    Have a look guys..imagine playing like this against an online player!!

    [link url=http:// www.gametrailers.com/player/23802.html
    ]http://ww w.gametrailers.com/player/23802...[/link]

    NUTMEG ner ner ner ner ner
    Edited by 1 at 22/08/07 @ 14:54

  • Amazing Bryan #24 5 years ago

    When I started reading this, I saw FIFA as PES and got all excited. When I realised that it was for FIFA only, I felt like a child on Christmas morning that didn't get the present they were expecting.

    At least EA have thought of something new before Konami and not just copied their ideas. More of a novelty than an innovation. If I wanted to play football as one player I'd go out in the garden and kick a ball against the wall.

  • MrE26 #25 5 years ago

    This might be the first FIFA i'll pick up since 98 on the Saturn. PES is my weapon of choice, but this sounds like it could be great fun. If only they could match PES's gameplay...

  • Dixons #26 5 years ago

    I can't see why this couldn't work though. The principal is no different to team based FPS'. Teams that play together will win and those that play as individuals will lose.

  • finty13 #27 5 years ago

    Can't see it working very well as there is always gonna be some greedy bastard who won't pass the ball. Just like real life then.

  • quantumsheep #28 5 years ago

    There are alternatives =P

  • The-Bodybuilder #29 5 years ago

    >"I play left back in real life but only because its the position im most suited. "

    You used the word "suited". I said "enjoyed".

  • The-Bodybuilder #30 5 years ago

    >"I can't see why this couldn't work though. The principal is no different to team based FPS'. Teams that play together will win and those that play as individuals will lose. "

    It's so basic, yet so many are getting it wrong.

    Sure there will be more strikers than defenders, but that just means it will be harder to get into a team (like real life).

    If you're in a league, and your team plays at all attacking, that means you'll be in the relegation zone (like man u, lol). If you play as a coherent, consistent, tactical team, then you'll be at the top.

    The real question should not be whether it will work, but whether you will find people to make a coherent team.
    Thanks to the internet and forums (like EGs), this shouldn't be much of a problem.

  • stuarty_2003 #31 5 years ago

    "Our dream is 11 vs 11"...applications for Goalkeepers will be in short supply i think!

  • malteaserhead #32 5 years ago

    I've been yapping about a 5 a side for ages
    /searches for something new to yap about

  • Canyarion #33 5 years ago

    "I can't see why this couldn't work though. The principal is no different to team based FPS'. Teams that play together will win and those that play as individuals will lose."

    Except in FPS online games you don't have 1 single gun shared by all players. ;-)

  • lambtron #34 5 years ago

    BodyBuilder is right though. If a team plays properly they will destroy a team who doesn't.

  • hamstand #35 5 years ago

    i have dreamt about this since fifa 96. sweet.

    hmmm that's a slight lie. fifa 98 maybe.
    Edited by 1 at 22/08/07 @ 17:05

  • BM #36 5 years ago

    @stuarty_2003

    How many footy games have come out with really good goalie controls though? The only game I've ever played with decent ones was Super Soccer on the SNES, and I absolutely LOVED being in control.

    I wouldn't mind playing a few odd games between the sticks.

  • Steroyd #37 5 years ago

    @ Amazing Bryan

    Seabass producer of Pro Evo has been talking about 11 v 11 online matches since the Next Gen systems were announced saying that actually doing it is another matter.

  • Ryze #38 5 years ago

    Gears of War meets FIFA?

  • finty13 #39 5 years ago

    "BodyBuilder is right though. If a team plays properly they will destroy a team who doesn't."

    Not neccessarily, as a team could just play everybody in there own half as defenders and this will more than likely break down any attack the other team can throw at them.

  • johlee991 #40 5 years ago

    Someone earlier said it best:

    "Having good players on your friends list is going to be a huge must have with this game."

    Man, if I see 4 of friends go after the ball at once, I'll start screaming bloody murder and start choking my mates when I next see them. :-D

    Then again, they won't do that, as we all play together indoor anyway, so just make sure that your not playing with the typical "I just bought FIFA today" and has no concept of footy.

  • Ranger101 #41 5 years ago

    It will work - UT2003+ had that american footbal style game - not to mention games like caputure the flag and all that working this way as well. IT's a tried and tested game dynamic - people will always find a niche position and settle. Likelihood is though that most people will opt for striker and mid field positions, leaving defence upto the cpu(!!!!!).

  • The-Bodybuilder #42 5 years ago

    >"Not neccessarily, as a team could just play everybody in there own half as defenders and this will more than likely break down any attack the other team can throw at them. "

    So one minute everyone is moaning that everybody will be strikers because nobody wants to be a defender, now we are moaning that everybody will be defending, because nobody would attack? O_o

    It's football for crying out loud. People play to win. In real life, a team CAN play all defensively, but they won't get far (except for chelsea. They'll just wait fo lampard to shoot and for drogba to tap it in).
    No team wins a league by drawing all thier matches.