Did EA just hint a new Icon SBC? ⇒ FUTFC

EA’s latest EVO could signal the first Icon Pack in FC 25

EA Sports may have quietly teased the first Icon Pack SBC in FC 25. A new cosmetic item called the Icon Embellishment Cosmetic EVO was added to Ultimate Team this weekend, and many players think it is the first sign that an Icon SBC is coming soon.

The cosmetic lets you apply a new animated card design to any Icon. It does not affect stats or PlayStyles, but the timing is what matters. Just a week ago, EA did the same thing with heroes. They released the Hero Embellishment Cosmetic EVO, and shortly after came the Max 86 Hero Upgrade Pack and the Base Hero Player Pick SBC.

The identical release pattern has made the community believe that an Icon SBC is next.

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What an early Icon SBC might look like

If EA stick to their current pattern, players could soon see a Base Icon Pack SBC capped at Max 87 overall. That level makes sense for the early stage of the game, offering popular Icons without unbalancing the power curve.

In FC 25, content releases have matched the same timeline as last year, when the first Icon SBC arrived in early October. The Icon Embellishment EVO arriving now fits perfectly with that schedule.

Expected requirements would likely include:

Three to five squads rated up to 86 or 88 overall
One or two in-form players
Flexible chemistry rules
A cost around 300,000 to 400,000 coins

That would make the SBC pricey but achievable for active players who have been grinding rewards.

How to prepare for the possible Icon SBC

Even though nothing is confirmed, it is smart to prepare early. Icon SBCs almost always make fodder prices spike within hours.

Here are a few easy preparation steps:

Buy 87 and 88 rated cards if they fall near 10,000 coins.
Keep your untradeable fodder from Rivals or Champs rewards ready.
Stay liquid with coins so you can react quickly when the SBC drops.
Save tradable packs in case you need quick fodder or coins.

These small steps can make a big difference once the Icon content goes live.

Why EA use the cosmetic first approach

EA have a habit of introducing cosmetics before releasing the related pack. The Hero Embellishment came first, and the Hero SBC followed. Now the same setup has happened with Icons.

This approach builds hype without spoiling upcoming content. It also prepares the market by increasing trading activity and raising interest in fodder cards. For EA, it keeps players engaged and logging in every day while still creating surprise when the SBC is officially released.