Why The Switch Version of FIFA 18 Has Missing Features

FIFA 18 will be returning to Nintendo consoles after several years of layoff. Later this month, gamers will be able to get their hands on a fully portable version of EA's annual football expertise, which has been built for the ground up for the Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, it is not all blue skies for fans of the franchise because the Switch version is missing a few features found in the other versions.

Many fans will be happy to hear that FIFA Ultimate Team will be included, but The Journey story mode will be particularly absent. What gives that? We know that the FIFA 18 on the Nintendo Switch is not actually provided by the Frostbite engine, but by a custom system that was built with the Switch in mind. Therefore, EA believes it is too hard to port the story mode over because it relies so much on the engine. Switch versions are also missing Squad Battles and FIFA Ultimate Team Champions.

An EA Sports producer, Andrei Lăzărescu, said in an interview that a decision must be made with the version with the forthcoming release date.

“Every time we only have a year to do the game,” Lăzărescu told Eurogamer. “You have to be very careful about the choices that we make and the features that we want to put in, because the date will not change. The date will not change in any way.”

It sounds like there was a time crunch involved and the team have to prioritize some modes over others. This leaves the door open in the future for future FIFA games on the Switch, if any, will be in full featured titles. Notably, NBA 2K18 on the Switch will be comparable with other consoles, so it shows that it is certainly possible.

Lăzărescu continuesto say that the design choices may be the decision to shield players from the overwhelming content. He said that putting all of these features on a whole new platform could give players too much content, and the game could eventually be too huge for new audiences.

“If you look at the history of Ultimate Team on the likes of Sony or Microsoft – I think it’s a seven year history if I recall correctly – that player base has also been accustomed to it already, and has been educated about it already, you know, so if you throw everything from the get go to a completely new player base, you might not get the desired result… even this [as it is] might be too much, it’s huge.”

It may be a real issue if you think that the Nintendo Switch owners only buy Nintendo consoles, which probably is not a safe assumption. We understand the compromise of the game due to time constraints and hardware limitations, but we will not buy  overload of content angle.

This could eventually become one of those situations where the future FIFA titles on the console rely on the sales of FIFA 18. If the gamers are really forced to talk with wallets, why choose a version with a cut features when you can get the fully featured version on the Xbox One or PS4 at the same price? It sounds like EA thinks that if you consider the Switch version, then it is the only option you have. Whatever the case, we are sure that the owners of the Switch are happy with the coming of the FIFA game. The last FIFA title to appear on a Nintendo home console was FIFA 13 for the Wii U.

FIFA 18 will be launching for the Nintendo switch, PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360 on September 29th. And those who purchase the Ronaldo Edition FIFA Coins will get three days early access beginning on September 26.