Interactive Leagues confirmed for next-gen FIFA 08

By Tom Bramwell Published 6 June, 2007

Podcasts, too.

EA has confirmed the return of the Interactive Leagues feature in the next version of FIFA. A bit of a hit on current-gen last year, the system tots up the results of online games between supporters of different clubs, with points earned going towards an overall league set-up. This time it'll be in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions.

"The Interactive Leagues is the most successful online tournament we've had for the FIFA franchise and I am thrilled to bring it into this year's next-gen game," next-gen producer Joe Booth said. "As a Leeds United fan I was pained to see Manchester United win the first Interactive Premier League last season. However, I'm looking forward to redressing the balance this year through FIFA 08."

The Interactive Leagues mentioned in EA's announcement are the FA Premier League, Bundesliga, French League and Mexican 1st Division. When league games are played in real-life, results between the two teams online are logged.

Other current-gen features will be making the hop to next-gen too. "One of my favourite things about Interactive Leagues is how it connects me and the development team with the FIFA gamers via our weekly in-game podcast," Booth adds. "We have just broken the one million downloads mark and it's been a fantastic way to interact with other fans, share experiences and answer questions." Members of the development team often contribute to the podcast to answer gameplay questions.

It's not the only new feature going into the next-gen FIFA 08 though. As you'll know if you read our recent preview, 08 introduces a new skill move system, a "Be A Pro" mode where you control one player in the team and have to concentrate staying onside, making runs and that sort of jazz.

Meanwhile, the current-gen PS2/PC version of FIFA 08 (also previewed) introduces a similar mode with a co-operative element, and the Wii version uses a mixture of buttons and gestures with a new camera perspective. Look out for more on that soon.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (15) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • Eighthours #1 5 years ago

    This is cool, but surely if you're playing as Man Utd you'll automatically have a better chance of winning than if you're playing... say... Sunderland. Therefore, it's always going to favour the present good real-life sides rather than judging which team's fans are really the best videogame players.

  • ryohazuki1983 #2 5 years ago

    Anybody know if the Wii version has online play?

  • Steroyd #3 5 years ago

    Yeah if you were say Leeds, you'd have to be damn good with the players you have to take on the Interactive league, and the person being either Chelsea or Man Utd would have to either be a n00b or just plain crap in general.

    Unless you can do transfers....but even then i don't see how that works out.

  • neilka #4 5 years ago

    Dear Eurogamer,

    When oh when oh when will you stop using the term "next-gen" for a set of consoles that have been available for 3-18 months?

    Yours Sincerely,
    Frustrated in Hull

  • kincaide #5 5 years ago

    Excellent - what does the Wii version play like?

  • rotmm #6 5 years ago

    Dear Frustrated in Hell,

    At least they're not using the monikers "Next-Gen" for the 360 and "True Next-Gen" for the PS3, as I'm sure Sony would love them to.

    Yours Sincerely,
    Thanks for Small Mercies in Northampton

  • SBfistfun #7 5 years ago

    Dear Frustrated on the toilet,

    Please stop referring to next-gen when all that's happened is they've added shine-o-vision to "old-gen" games

    Yours Sincerely,
    Mr unimpressed

  • Les #8 5 years ago

    "At least they're not using the monikers "Next-Gen" for the 360 and "True Next-Gen" for the PS3, as I'm sure Sony would love them to."

    What kind of idiot troll remark is that?

    (and what kind of idiot am I to respond to it...)

  • DUFFMAN5 #9 5 years ago

    A.F.C. back were we belong next year then! (poxy Man U/Chelsea et all)
    I beat some chap who was playing as Brazil a few weeks back. The mighty Gunners won 2-1

  • rotmm #10 5 years ago

    The best kind of idiot, Les, the very best kind.

  • stampax #11 5 years ago

    Sounds great - can't wait! All my fifa games take place online - i'd rather they didnt bother with the single player mode at all!

  • The-Bodybuilder #12 5 years ago

    >"And why don't you try to find out something about the next PES as well."

    Why don't you go and find something on it?

    If konami doesn't want anyone to know about the next PES, then EG can't bribe people to vide them a beta disc or something.

    And you know what you can do if EG aren't giving you the news you want, right?
    Edited by 1 at 06/06/07 @ 16:45

  • Micro_Explosion #13 5 years ago

    "Yeah if you were say Leeds, you'd have to be damn good with the players you have to take on the Interactive league, and the person being either Chelsea or Man Utd would have to either be a n00b or just plain crap in general."

    How is that different to real life? A crap team has to play above their game or the good team have an off day or the good team has to be outplayed tactically.

  • DjWhizzkidd #14 5 years ago

    Also the fact that the phrase "next-gen" is completely meaningless and used by twats in marketing to make their product sound better than it is.
    Everyone uses it now, I even saw a mascara advert that said its applicator was "next generation" and it could give you "high definition" lashes. What a load of shit !

  • Jas315 #15 5 years ago

    "Dear Eurogamer,

    When oh when oh when will you stop using the term "next-gen" for a set of consoles that have been available for 3-18 months?

    Yours Sincerely,
    Frustrated in Hull"


    When the PS2 finally dies? LMAO