EA Sports FC 27 is introducing a new, even more expensive tier called the "Ultimate Plus" Edition, priced at $150. This represents a significant price increase over the base game and highlights a trend of escalating costs for premium editions of EA's popular sports titles.
The Ultimate Plus Edition surpasses the cost of other high-tier editions, including Grand Theft Auto VI's Ultimate Edition and Borderlands 4's Super Deluxe Edition. It is priced identically to the EA Sports MVP Bundle for College Football, which includes two games, whereas the FC Ultimate Plus Edition includes only one.
Detailed in an extensive chart for consumers, the Ultimate Plus Edition's premium pricing is largely attributed to four additional premium season passes, each valued at $10. The remaining cost is accounted for by in-game bonuses tied to the soccer game's monetization systems. These include an allotment of 10,000 FC Points spread over five months, an increase from the 6,000 Points provided over three months in the regular Ultimate Edition. Players opting for this edition also receive a Hall of FUT Player Pick and boosts for EA Sports FC 26 to use before the main game's Early Access launch on August 31. The standard release date for EA Sports FC 27 is September 6.
This announcement follows a recent player revolt concerning paywalled mechanics in EA College Football, which were intended to accelerate progression. EA ultimately made these features available to all players but indicated that similar microtransaction-based progression aids might be retained in future titles. EA stated earlier this month that its live service plans for future college football games aim for greater transparency and communication regarding valuable features and content.
EA's acquisition by a Saudi Arabian consortium and other private investors is nearing completion, pending final regulatory approvals. This leveraged buyout, valued at $55 billion, will impose substantial debt on the publisher. Speculation suggests EA may turn to generative AI and significant layoffs to manage costs and service this debt. The company is also reportedly exploring new avenues for in-game advertising, potentially indicating a broader strategy to increase revenue streams across its portfolio.
The introduction of an exorbitantly priced edition for EA Sports FC 27 may signal an approach to maximize revenue from its most dedicated fan base rather than focusing solely on improving the core game for broader sales.