EA FC 24 bans popular Ultimate Team formations
EA has banned a whole group of formations for FC 24 competitive play as the three centre-back meta has been overruled in esports events.
28th Sep 2023 16:43
EA
EA FC 24 bans popular Ultimate Team formations
EA has banned a whole group of formations for FC 24 competitive play as the three centre-back meta has been overruled in esports events.
28th Sep 2023 16:43
EA
Those with Early Access to EA FC 24 are quickly sussing out the Ultimate Team meta, with formations and tactics being trial-and-error tested.
As usual, the 433s and the diamond 41212s are widely popular, but there has been a lot of success for players to be found in running three centre-backs, especially with the defending being much more difficult than in FIFA games gone by.
But if you were hoping to run five-at-the-back for the foreseeable future, you might just be getting capped with a skill ceiling as EA has banned the ‘ratty’ formations from competitive play.
EA ban defensive formations from competitive FC 24 playlists
Formations such as 5221 have become quite a popular choice in high-ranked Rivals divisions so far, with overlapping fullbacks getting around the wingers to provide assists, all the while having a lot of defensive security at the other end.
But EA has now banned this from their esports competitions, as players will not be allowed to use any five-at-the-back or three-at-the-back formations.
The ban only comes into play for EA-sponsored esports events, but for those players who want to chance their arms - and feet - at these tournaments, it’s a habit you won’t want to use in Rivals and the Weekend League either.
Fans baffled with EA FC 24's banned formations
Given that these formations have been staples of personal tactics for some players, fans are now baffled at why these players are being punished.
"How can you ban a real-life formation?" One fan instantly quizzed. A second fan added, “[Manchester] City just won the treble with a back 3, and the team they faced in the [Champions League] final had a back 5. This is a joke."
One further fan also said that the formations are being banned as a result of the game being imbalanced. "This is kind of just admitting those formations are unbalanced. Why not just fix that?" they said.
Restrictions between the professional scene and the base game are often used in esports though; Call of Duty often restricts weapons like RPGs from being in competitions to make a more balanced experience.
But for EA FC fans, it might be best to stick to the usual four-player back lines in Rivals, especially if you fancy your chances of being a future esports star.
About The Author
Jack Marsh
Jack is an Esports Journalist at GGRecon. Graduating from the University of Chester, with a BA Honours degree in Journalism, Jack is an avid esports enthusiast and specialises in Rocket League, Call of Duty, VALORANT, and trending gaming news.
