EA Sports FC 24: What to Expect and the Impact of Potential Changes

As we approach the release of EA Sports FC 25, the excitement among football gaming fans continues to build. However, a question lingering in the community is whether EA will bring back the beloved "Welcome Back" or loyalty packs that have been instrumental to EA FC 24 Coins the success of many players in Ultimate Team mode. In FIFA 23, these packs were a valuable way for veteran players to get a head start. Now, as the franchise transitions from the FIFA brand to EA Sports FC, the uncertainty of this feature's return is having a significant impact on the market and early-game experiences for players. Let’s delve into the significance of these loyalty packs, what we’ve seen in the past, and what we can expect moving forward.

 What Are Welcome Back or Loyalty Packs?

For those unfamiliar, "Welcome Back" or "Loyalty Packs" have been a key feature in past iterations of FIFA's Ultimate Team mode. They are essentially rewards given to players who have consistently engaged with the game across multiple years. These packs are granted to players who continue to play each new version of the game, rewarding them for their loyalty and providing a small, yet significant, boost at the start of a new season.

The last time we saw these packs was in FIFA 23, where they played a crucial role in giving players the resources to build competitive teams right from the start. Typically, players would receive a set of packs based on how many years they had played the game. These ranged from basic 5K gold packs to more valuable packs that included guaranteed 80+ rated rare players, sometimes even with tradable rewards. This allowed players to either sell valuable cards on the market for coins or integrate them into their early squads, giving them a substantial leg-up in building their teams.

 The Importance of Welcome Back Packs in Ultimate Team

The Ultimate Team mode in EA Sports FC (previously FIFA) is highly competitive, and early progress can be critical to long-term success. Welcome Back packs provide the following benefits:

 1. Market Impact
   Having these packs available to all players means there is an influx of cards into the market, which helps balance prices. In FIFA 23, players could use these packs to quickly acquire coins by selling off valuable assets, leading to a healthy market right from the beginning of the game. 

   Without these packs, there is often a scarcity of cards early in the game, causing prices to inflate dramatically. For example, in FIFA 23, players like Erling Haaland saw their prices skyrocket from 38,000 coins during the web app launch to over 400,000 coins once the game was fully live. This kind of drastic price fluctuation can create a barrier for casual players who aren’t as adept at earning coins early on.

   Last year, in EA Sports FC 24, the lack of Welcome Back packs meant that cards were scarce at launch, causing the market to behave differently from previous years. Meta cards like Vinícius Jr. and Haaland started with incredibly high prices due to the limited supply. Vinícius Jr., for example, began at around 1.2 million coins and later dropped to 800K due to market corrections, a direct consequence of the unbalanced supply and demand.

 2. Helping Players Get Started
   For many, the first few days of Ultimate Team are a grind, especially with the limited tools available on the web app. Players start with little more than a basic starter pack, a handful of low-rated players, and not much else to work with. Welcome Back packs were a crucial way to help players jumpstart their teams. 

   With these packs, players could immediately begin working on advanced SBCs (Squad Building Challenges) or objectives that required stronger cards than what is typically available in the starter pack. This made the game more engaging and enjoyable right from the start, as players weren’t stuck playing with an underwhelming squad while waiting for coin accumulation.

 3. Boosting Early Game Enjoyment
   The excitement of Ultimate Team is often tied to opening packs. Whether you’re hoping to land a star player or simply looking for useful players to complete challenges, packs are the core of the experience. The lack of Welcome Back packs in EA Sports FC 24 resulted in a slower, more grinding start, with fewer options for immediate squad upgrades. Players who logged into the web app found themselves with little to do after completing the basic foundation SBCs, leading to frustration and boredom.

 Why Didn’t We See Welcome Back Packs in FC 24?

The absence of Welcome Back packs in EA Sports FC 24 likely stemmed from the brand shift from FIFA to EA Sports FC. As the franchise rebranded itself, EA introduced a new "Founder" status for players who started playing the game before a certain date, but this didn’t include the traditional Welcome Back packs that players had come to rely on.

Instead, the focus seemed to be on Founders’ cosmetics, such as special kits and badges, rather than in-game resources like tradable packs. While these cosmetics are appreciated by some, they don’t hold the same value as packs that allow players to build a competitive team early on or profit from the market.

 EA's Hints for FC 25: Could Welcome Back Packs Return?

Recently, there has been some speculation within the community about the possible return of loyalty rewards for FC 25. This speculation began when eagle-eyed fans noticed a hidden Easter egg in the fine print of the PlayStation and Xbox stores, which hinted at a new loyalty feature called "Club Membership."

According to the fine print, Club Membership will be available to players who played EA Sports FC 24 before September 27th and FC 25 before November 1st. This membership promises exclusive benefits throughout the year, including rewards in all game modes, such as Ultimate Team. However, the specific details of these rewards remain unclear.

On the Xbox store, the text states, "Introducing club membership. FC25 Club members will receive a host of exclusive benefits across the year, including a badge and kit to represent their status and rewards across all your favorite game modes." This opens up the possibility that loyalty rewards, similar to the Welcome Back packs, could make a comeback.

However, it’s important to manage expectations. While this new membership program may introduce rewards, EA’s phrasing and track record suggest that these may primarily be cosmetic or minor bonuses, rather than the tradable packs players used to receive.

 Market Predictions for FC 25

If EA Sports FC 25 does not include Welcome Back packs, the market is likely to resemble FC 24's launch. We can expect high prices for meta cards due to their scarcity in the early days. Without an influx of tradable packs, players who want to build competitive teams early on may find themselves struggling to afford key players.

On the other hand, if EA surprises us with the return of these packs, we could see a healthier market with more reasonably priced meta players. More cards on the market would mean greater accessibility for a wider range of players, allowing for more strategic trading and team-building.

 Conclusion: Will EA Bring Back the Welcome Back Packs?

As we look forward to EA Sports FC 25, the community remains hopeful for the return of Welcome Back packs. These rewards not only make the start of Ultimate Team more enjoyable but also have a significant impact on the in-game market. The introduction of Club Membership raises some questions, but it’s too soon to say whether this will replace or supplement the loyalty packs of old.

For now, players are advised to prepare for another year without Welcome Back packs, though they should keep an eye on any announcements from EA. If these packs do return, it could dramatically alter the early-game dynamics and provide players with the head start they need to FIFA 24Coins for sale  succeed in Ultimate Team.