EA Sports has called the Nintendo Switch version of FC 24 a “huge achievement”.
FC 24 on Nintendo Switch runs on the Frostbite Engine, a first for EA’s football franchise. It means EA isn’t simply releasing a rebranded “legacy” version of FIFA 19 again this year.
Switch players also get an expanded Ultimate Team mode on par with the Ultimate Team seen in other versions of the game. Ultimate Team in the Nintendo Switch version of FIFA was severely limited.
Nintendo Switch owners have heavily criticised EA for releasing legacy editions of FIFA on the console. IGN awarded the original FIFA 19 a 5/10, and FIFA 20 (which we said offers "nothing but a barebones roster update") a 4/10. FIFA 21, FIFA 22, and FIFA 23 earned just a 2/10 each. The final entry is "a prime example of minimal effort for maximum profit", we said in our review.
FC 24, however, is “comparable” to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game in terms of common features, John Shepherd, VP, Executive Producer at Electronic Arts, told IGN.
“It’s going to have all the modes. It’s more representative of the Xbox One, PS4 gameplay, than it would be the PlayStation 5, latest-gen gameplay. There are a few differences, just because of the hardware, but the game’s running great.”
Shepherd described FC 24 on Nintendo Switch as “a big project”. It took years to get the game running well on Nintendo’s console, and required a cross-department effort that involved significant support from EA’s Frostbite team.
“That’s been multiple years, just trying to get that working really nicely on Switch,” Shepherd said. “We were reviewing it with Nintendo not too long ago. Everyone’s really excited about it.
“It was a collaboration not just with FC, but across EA. We had to get a lot of Frostbite support to get everything working on Switch. It’s a huge achievement, honestly.”
It’s worth noting that despite the improvements made for FC 24 on Nintendo Switch, it is excluded from the game’s crossplay pools. PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC versions can play cross-platform, and PS4 and Xbox One versions can play cross-platform.
Check out IGN’s FC 24 hands-on preview to find out more. FC 24 launches September 29 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
