EA FC 24 Spring Update introduces new animations, 86 new faces & more

The patches that come to EA FC 24 often introduce small quality-of-life changes and generally aren’t very exciting - however, the Spring Update, which is the eleventh patch, is bringing plenty of changes to the game.

There's still no release date for this patch, but according to the EA FC X page, it will be released at some point in March. Keep reading for everything new arriving in the game, from tweaks to PlayStyles to changes to AI CPU and more.

Gameplay changes 

Updated PlayStyles 

The goal here is to ensure that meaningfully different options are available to players when squad-building, with PlayStyles and PlayStyles+ helping offer greater variety.

Slightly adjusted the PlayStyles below:

• Tiki Taka | Lowered accuracy and pass quality of first-time passes
• Pinged Pass | Decreased accuracy of Driven Passes
• Pinged Pass+ | Increased accuracy of Driven Passes
• Jockey | Reduced maximum possible Sprint Jockey speed
• Press Proven | Reduced shield effectiveness with the ball
• Press Proven+ | Increased shield effectiveness, and increased Strength Attribute effectiveness while shielding
• Long Ball Pass and Long Ball Pass+ | Decreased accuracy of crosses
• Power Header | Increased ball speed from lower powered headers
• Dead Ball | Reduced set piece preview line length

Significantly adjusted the PlayStyles below:

• Power Header+ | Reduced ball speed for medium to high powered headers
• Relentless and Relentless+ | Reduced amount of half time and extra time stamina recovery
• Aerial+ | Reduced the amount of added running jump height, this includes jogging jump height as well
• Power Shot and Power Shot+ | Reduced ball speed from Power Shots

CPU AI changes

The Spring Update brings changes to Legendary CPU AI difficulty, intending to offer a fresh experience when playing this challenging level of opponent.

Adjusted Legendary difficulty CPU AI behaviour: 

• Legendary AI teams known for tiki taka play are less likely to focus on that style of play when near the opponent’s penalty area.

• CPU AI players are more likely to perform shot types based on their respective PlayStyles, when applicable.

• Players with lower Composure Attributes are more likely to make mistakes when pressed.

These changes are made in the hope of tweaking how varied games on this difficulty setting feel.

New animations based on volumetric data

EA FC 24 brought HyperMotionV and full team volumetric data, an advanced gameplay technology that creates true-to-football animations using capture of player movement from real-life competitive matches.

For the first time post-launch, Title Update #11 brings the addition of several new animations based on volumetric data captured from the real matches in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage. These animations are designed to make the game look and feel true to life.

Shooting Animations

Starting from the attacking side, shooting animations based on capture from multiple real-world competitive games have been added, including a goal scored by Haaland.

New Skill Move

Vinícius Jr. is one of the most spectacular and creative players out there in the world of football today. His offensive creativity always puts a lot of pressure on opponents. 

In Title Update #11 a new skill move based on capture from Vinícius Jr. in real-life matches, the Idle Stepover is being added. This Skill Move variation will be available exclusively to players with the Trickster PlayStyle. 

You can access new the skill move by pressing L2+R2 || LT+RT while standing. The previous Trickster Skill Move with this input has been moved to L1+L2+R2 || LB+LT+RT

This new Skill Move is cancelable at any point and can be linked into all Standing Skill Moves.

New Clearance Animation

Finally, on the defensive side, a new clearance animation based on a defensive highlight from the 2024 UCL match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain has been introduced. This animation is now in the game and can shine in goal line save situations.

Updates coming to Ultimate Team 

Updated Legendary difficulty in Ultimate Team

As mentioned earlier, the Spring Update brings changes to Legendary CPU AI difficulty, and this is reflected in Ultimate Team modes as well. 

Previously, Squad Battles and Single Player Ultimate Team Draft would be played in Competitor Mode when the Legendary CPU AI was selected. From this update onwards, Competitor Mode will no longer apply to the Legendary difficulty. This change aims to create a more balanced transition in difficulty options.

New player items in Ultimate Team

To further highlight Spring Update changes, a new SBC will soon be available in Ultimate Team. This SBC will reward a Player Pick featuring Player Items from three promoted teams in the English Premier League this season: Sheffield United, Burnley, and Luton Town.

Player Moments Anel Ahmedhodžić

The Anel Ahmedhodžić Moments Player Item will have increased Speed and Acceleration Attributes, as well as Block+ and Jockey+ PlayStyles. This unique combination of Attributes and PlayStyles is intended to help players effectively defend against ever changing attacking threats, for example against refreshed Legendary CPU AI in Squad Battles.

Also, be on the lookout for an update to Anel Ahmedhodžić star head following a Server Release in the near future.

Player Moments Carlton Morris

The Carlton Morris Moments Player Item will have increased Finishing, Composure, and Shot Power Attributes. This combination of Attributes can be important for an effective attacking goalscorer.

Player Moments Benson Manuel

The Benson Manuel Moments Player Item will have the Trickster+ PlayStyle and a 5* Skill Move rating. This combination can help players to effectively perform various Skill Moves in-game, including the new Skill Move.

Some fresh faces

Title Update #11 brings 86 new player star heads to EA FC 24. You can expect to see improved likeness of players across the English Premier League and Germany’s Bundesliga for players of all calibre, including prominent performers of this season such as Jérémy Doku, Kaoru Mitoma, Rasmus Højlund and Micky Van De Ven.

The updated faces will come shortly after the patch drops via a server update. 

PlayStyles UI in online matches

Addressed an issue which caused PlayStyle indicators to not show up on the match UI as intended. Going forward, you’ll be able to see the opposing player’s PlayStyles near their stamina bar. Keep in mind that this UI only reflects the currently selected player.

That's all there is to know about the new additions coming to EA FC 24. The slight overhaul on PlayStyles could really mix up the meta in the game, but personally, I am a sucker for new faces being added. For whatever reason, when doing a Career Mode I struggle using players who don't have their actual face. 

For more guides, check out our EA FC 24 homepage where we have already covered the best teams to use in Career Mode, the best wonderkids, why Brazil aren't in the game and more.