EA FC 25 Has Ray Tracing and a New Graphics Mode for the First Time [IGN]

EA FC 25 has a number of graphics options never before seen in the series, or its predecessor FIFA.

The headline here is the addition of ray tracing for the first time in either FC or FIFA, the latter of which was EA Sports’ football video game series before the company’s high-profile split from the world football governing body in 2022.

Alongside ray tracing comes a new graphics mode for FC 25, which gives players the choice between Enhanced Visuals or Favour Resolution.

Enhanced Visuals features augmented lighting and graphic details in upscaled 4K resolution, whereas Favour Resolution features standard lighting in native 4K. It’s worth noting both graphical options offer 60 frames per second during gameplay to retain responsiveness.

In a reveal event at EA Sports’ Vancouver, Canada headquarters, Fab Muoio, line producer, match experiences, outlined the benefits of these new graphics options, while confirming FC 25 will default to Enhanced Visuals.

“FC 25 will have ray traced and occlusion as part of enhanced visuals,” Muoio explained. “We’ll have full cloth sim on the jersey and the shorts during gameplay, self-shadowing at all times of the day, rim lighting on the players. So what that does is the closeup shots will really punch out from the background, and give you more depth to the frame. And then we will have 3D pitch divots and puddles as well.

“Particularly with shadowing, we see the shadowing on the pitch, on the player, even in the crowd we see that impact of the shadows there.”

Muoio continued: “Looking at Favour Resolution, we have cloth sim on the shorts only during gameplay and self-shadowing is only available during the day.

In another first, FC 25 will show time progression during a match. “So in the first half the sun may be setting, in the second half, it’ll be nighttime,” Muoio said.

FC 25 is due out September 27, with early access through the Ultimate Edition beginning September 20, across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. For more, check out IGN’s roundup of all the changes FC 25 makes, as well as the EA Sports developers welcoming the challenge of a potential new FIFA game in the coming years.

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.