Erm, so let’s ignore the whirlpool of controversy currently enveloping FIFA, and focus on something positive; for the first time in the FIFA video game series, women’s football teams will be playable in FIFA 16.
16 national sides, to be exact, featuring top players from the sport’s most successful nations including the USA’s Hope Solo, England’s Eni Aluko and Brazil’s Marta.
“With all-new in-game animations, 3D player modelling, and life-like head scans - Women’s National Teams are authentically represented in the game,” writes EA. “From running motion, to facial animations and hair movement - players will look and move just like they do during real competition.”
You’ll be able to match women’s teams against each other in exhibition mode, offline tournaments, and online friendly matches. That doesn’t give you quite the options that you get with the men’s teams, and you won’t be able to match teams from both sexes together (for accuracy, apparently, in a game where I can play as Brighton and spend $80,000,000 on Lionel Messi), but it’s definitely a start.
Now the ball is rolling, there’s no reason why we can’t eventually have a full roster of women’s club competitions. Maybe next year. FIFA 16 is due out this September, on PC and consoles.
