EU crackdown could force EA to change how FC 25 is monetized ⇒ FUTFC

There’s growing momentum in the European Union to regulate how video games, particularly AAA titles like EA Sports FC 25, make money. If you’re tired of pay-to-win mechanics, loot boxes, and limited-time store packs creating pressure to spend, some long-awaited change may finally be on the way.

In what might be the strongest sign yet of a regulatory shift, the EU’s Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC) is pushing to enforce stricter rules across the gaming industry. And based on the way EA designs Ultimate Team, this could directly impact the future of the entire mode.

What is the Digital Fairness Act and how could it affect FC 25?

The Digital Fairness Act was introduced in the EU as a response to widespread concerns about dark patterns and unethical monetization in digital services. AAA game publishers like EA are at the center of that discussion, especially due to their use of gambling-style mechanics like loot boxes and random pack rewards in Ultimate Team.

On March 20, the CPC began enforcement actions targeting a gaming company that was using manipulative sales tactics. Though that specific case involved a lesser-known title, it set a precedent. The CPC is now escalating its concerns to the EU Commission, pushing for system-wide change.

Here’s a breakdown of the five key principles from the CPC’s proposal and how they match EA’s practices in FC 25:

Dark patterns and false urgency
Think of time-limited packs, daily store refreshes, and promos that push users to spend now or miss out forever. Under the new guidelines, that practice could be outlawed. Packs may need to remain available year-round.
Addictive design and gambling-like features
Ultimate Team’s pack system is widely considered one of the most gambling-like features in gaming. If stricter enforcement is approved, EA may have to overhaul how players acquire cards.
Personalized targeting of consumer vulnerabilities
Whether it’s suggested packs, lightning rounds, or in-game messages that pressureyou based on your activity, all of these could fall under scrutiny. Features like Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment or pack odds manipulation, even if unconfirmed, would come under the microscope.
Lack of clarity in subscriptions and renewals
While less relevant to FC 25, this targets unclear or hard-to-cancel services, such as EA Play. Subscription models would need to improve transparency.
Commercial influencer practices
Influencers and creators promoting EA products without properly disclosing partnerships could be penalized. It’s not just about the game anymore, but also how it’s marketed.

EA’s strategy may already be changing

It’s no coincidence that EA has been putting more effort into Evolutions lately. Evolutions are grind-based card upgrades that require gameplay investment rather than direct payment. While these may not fully replace the current store pack system, they hint at a potential backup plan if regulation forces a change.

Evolutions let players upgrade low-rated cards into elite ones over time. They aren’t tied to random loot or store packs, which makes them more appealing from a consumer fairness standpoint. This could explain why EA is slowly pushing more Evolutions into Ultimate Team despite store packs still dominating the monetization strategy.

It’s worth noting that store content has recently become even more aggressive. Players have reported waves of new store packs added every couple of days. This may be EA’s attempt to maximize short-term revenue in case the current system is outlawed.

Could EA skip the EU market entirely?

There’s growing speculation that if these regulations pass, some AAA publishers might stop releasing games in the EU altogether or limit game features within the region. One example is Belgium, where FIFA already launched without loot boxes due to the country’s gambling laws.

If these new rules take effect across the entire EU, EA could be forced to create a different version of the game for the region. That version might be stripped of Ultimate Team’s pack system or dramatically altered to comply with new laws. While unlikely that EA would abandon a market as big as the EU, changes would still be necessary to avoid legal issues.

See YouTuber JFC‘s take on the situation here.

The industry is feeling the pressure

The European Game Developers Federation and Video Games Europe, two major organizations representing game creators, have already responded to the proposed rules. They claim the CPC Network has failed to engage properly with developers and are pushing back against what they call “misguided interpretations of EU consumer law.”

They also warned that the proposed rules could disrupt the gaming economy and “deprive millions of consumers access to their favorite games.” In plain terms, that means they’re afraid monetization limits will cut into profits and force changes that impact availability or profitability of big-name titles.

But from a player perspective, that’s kind of the point. The industry has long been accused of exploiting players through dark patterns and gambling-like mechanics. Regulators stepping in might finally bring accountability.

What could actually change in FC 25 and beyond?

If the EU enforces these rules, the impact on FC 25 and future titles like FC 26 could be massive:

Store packs may need to stay available year-round, killing false urgency
Loot box systems could be banned entirely or restricted to over-18 accounts
All pack odds may need to be fully transparent and regulated
Influencers would be forced to clearly disclose all EA-sponsored content
Refunds might become mandatory for digital purchases under certain conditions

It’s also possible the FUT market, evolution systems, and player progression models will take center stage if the current monetization model becomes unsustainable. EA would need to pivot to a more gameplay-first, reward-based design.