
EA Sports FC 25 has faced significant criticism, extending beyond monetization concerns to encompass its technical performance. This backlash led to the development of a "Gameplay Refresh Update," incorporating over 50 changes to core game mechanics. These improvements target key areas, including assists, shooting, goalkeeping, and defensive play. The update addresses prevalent issues such as defenders inexplicably catching up to ball carriers and aims to create smoother attacking transitions. AI behavior has also been refined, reducing the frequency of unrealistic tackles and interceptions, and improving the effectiveness of crossing passes. Player support in familiar roles has been enhanced, and offside detection during AI offensive runs has been improved. Finally, the accuracy of long-range shots under simple conditions has received a slight boost.
The game's initial reception was overwhelmingly negative, with only 36% positive player reviews out of 474 at launch. This negative sentiment stems from perceived corporate greed, numerous bugs and crashes, and difficulties with PlayStation controller recognition. Furthermore, EA Sports FC 25's anti-cheat measures render it incompatible with the Steam Deck.