While FIFA initially had a more " arcade-style" approach, PES was more of a football simulation video game series with "faster-paced tactical play" and more varied emergent gameplay, which led to PES rivaling FIFA in sales during the 2000s. Announced on 9 August 2013, an open beta was released on 12 November 2013 in Brazil and Russia, [79] before being made globally available on 20 May 2014.

An Xbox version was added to the Windows and PlayStation 2, whereas the original PlayStation version was dropped. A notorious bug allows the player to score by standing in front of the goalkeeper so that the ball rebounds off him into the net. Due to licensing troubles with Brazilian players, this was the first game in the main series that did not feature a Brazilian league in any form.

This version also introduced a larger club section including the League of Ireland, and the Hyundai A-League of Australia, for the first time.

To keep the commentary from sounding too robotic, EA Sports recorded Motson saying each phrase four different times, each time in a different tone. In EA Sports FC 24, the inaugural installment of the succeeding EA Sports FC franchise, Erling Haaland will appear on the covers of both the standard and ultimate editions. The system requirements have gone ballistic accordingly, with the recommended spec being a 16Mb P133. The kiss, which forward Hermoso says was not consensual, sparked outcry, with Rubiales eventually stepping down from his role in September.This version of the FIFA series contained over 40 "classic" teams, so that gamers could play as retired football legends.

Flipping through the manual and reference card turned up some gems, like "When the ball carrier is in the zone".Lionel Messi was joined by Eden Hazard on this one in the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. EA Sports will continue to release football games under the title EA Sports FC beginning in 2023, while FIFA has stated an intention to enter a partnership with a new developer to produce "the only authentic, real game that has the FIFA name" in 2024.