Ultimate Team

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Ultimate Team was introduced in the 2008 game FIFA 09. In this edition it was downloadable content only available on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and similar to a mode in the previous EA Sports game UEFA Champions League 2006–2007, as well as FIFA Online series. It allowed gamers to create a team through opening card packs and buying, selling and auctioning cards. With the team they could play against other gamers, offline as well as online. Card packs were bought with Microsoft Points or in-game coins.

In Their Own Story

The digital stadium lights hummed with anticipation as the final match of the season approached. In the quiet of his room, the manager scrolled through his squad screen, checking the chemistry links one last time. He had traded weeks of resources for this moment, securing a legendary striker to lead the attack against an online rival known for their impenetrable defense. The transfer market was closed; now it was purely about execution. As the virtual whistle blew, he knew that every pass and tackle would determine whether his dream team ascended to the top of the leaderboard or faded into obscurity.

Reader's Guide

Ultimate Team game modes all feature the gamer controlling their all-star team in a match. In Squad Battles, the gamer competes against the computer AI and can choose a difficulty setting. In other modes, including Division Rivals and Champions, the gamer competes online against other gamers; difficulty in these modes is managed by gamers increasing in rank through winning and generally only being fielded against similarly-ranked opponents through a ladder and streak system introduced in the 2021 game FIFA 22. Another way to play and earn rewards is through Moments, which is played against the AI and does not typically have gamers play through a full match. Playing matches provides coins and can count towards objectives that may provide XP, coins, packs, or cards. Packs can be bought with microtransactions or earned through completing match objectives or Squad Building Challenges (SBCs). Specific cards can only be purchased through in-game coins. Chemistry is affected by manager and player cards' nationalities, leagues and teams, and was significantly changed in FIFA 23 and then again in EA Sports FC 24. SBCs allow gamers to swap player cards they own in exchange for packs or specific items.

Did You Know?

• Ultimate Team has been described as 'the most important strand of the globe-spanning [EA Sports] mega-franchise' in The Athletic.
• Streaming matches and pack openings in Ultimate Team is popular among influencers and often watched by younger gamers.
• The mode has been often criticized for its reliance on loot box packs, considered a controversial form of gambling.
• EA describes Ultimate Team as predominantly a game of skill.
• With Ultimate Team's launch in 2008, EA became the first major video game developer to include loot boxes in a game.

Gallery