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FIFA 21 EA Access release date, EA Play, FUT early, Prices & More

David Purcell
FIFA 21 EA Play EA Access with MbappeEA SPORTS

EA SPORTS have confirmed EA Access will actually be called EA Play for FIFA 21, and a release date has been set. Here, we look at all of the confirmed details. 

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FIFA 21 announcements have been coming thick and fast as we approach the October launch. We have seen everything from the entire ICONs list revealed to the top 100 player ratings released so far, and soon enough we’ll be able to experience it all in-game.

The first-look, for many players, will be EA Play. Of course, there’s a demo version to come and all of that, but this early access package will be as close as it gets to working with the finished article.

The way you get your hands on the next game has changed a little this year, so let’s dive into the confirmed details.

Contents

Get FIFA 21 early with EA Play

FIFA 21 EA PlayEA SPORTS
EA have given EA Access a refresh with an all-new gaming package, called EA Play.

EA have announced that their new subscription service, EA Play, will be replacing EA Access this year. For FIFA players, that will be just a change in name only as most things will stay the same, but it also means a lot of EA games are dropping on Stream – which is a big bonus for PC players.

Instead of signing up for the usual service, you have to switch over to EA Play instead to get the FIFA 21 trial.

FIFA 21 EA Access release date (EA Play)

FIFA 21 players with EA Access logoEA SPORTS
Play with Virgil van Dijk and more in FIFA 21 with EA Access.

According to the game’s  developers, EA Play early access will start up on October 1, meaning the demo should be available even sooner. Pre-orders for Ultimate Edition or Champions Edition will also come with a three day early pass.

The official worldwide launch for the next flagship football game will be October 9, 2020 – and that’s for the Standard Version.

What’s included in FIFA 21 EA Play?

FIFA 21 on goalEA SPORTS
FIFA 21 can be accessed early with EA Play.

Those who have played FIFA games before will know by now that EA Access grants them access to Ultimate Team, Career Mode, Pro Clubs, or the freedom to waste time in the new-look menus for up to 10 hours. Then, it expires.

During this time, you can start your campaign as the next manager of any team you choose, or start building your FUT squad. It’s completely up to you. As well as this, if you’re a member, you will be granted a 10% discount off the game as well as 10% off all FIFA points.

FIFA 21 EA Play rewards

Benefits of membership include the following, per the official EA website.

  • October 1-9, 2020, FIFA 21 early access trial for EA Play members
    • 10-hour early access trial
    • Early access Objectives in FUT 21
  • Beginning October 9, 2020
    • 10-hour trial
    • Start of Season XP Boosts throughout FUT 21
    • FUT Kits throughout the FUT 21 season
    • FUT Stadium vanity items throughout the FUT 21 season

In fact, there’s even a way to get another 10% off as well, and here’s a guide on how to redeem the offer.

FIFA 21 EA Play: Xbox One, PlayStation 4 & PC

xbox one consolePixabay
FIFA 21 EA Play will be available on current gen consoles, yes.

When EA Play early access hits, it will be available for all three of the current platforms to play FIFA on – Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. This will allow those who have an active membership to get a leg up on their opponents, who didn’t subscribe.

Will FIFA 21 EA Play early access work on next-gen?

While the EA Play early access package has been confirmed for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, there is currently no release date set for the next-gen version of the game.

This means those who are interested to see how this year’s title plays on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 will have to wait a little longer. The trailer above was from EA Play, where we saw a glimpse of how graphics will make a step up.

Once we know when EA Play will be opening up for other consoles, we’ll be sure to update this article.

The good news is, though, EA have confirmed purchased copies of the game on Xbox One and PS4 will carry over for free once their superiors launch. Read more about Dual Entitlement here.

How much is FIFA 21 EA Play early access?

EA Access online libraryEA
FIFA 20, among other games, are already available on the EA Play pass.

EA Play might be new for this title, but the same goes for EA Access before. There’s very little difference.

If you’re interested in buying EA Play, to get FIFA 21 or other games as part of the package, it costs $4.99 per month (£3.99) or $29.99 (£19.99) for the entire year. 

Can you get longer than 10 hours on EA Play early access?

EA SPORTS
Eden Hazard and Real Madrid will be available to play with in EA Play early access. If you’re lucky, you might pack him in Ultimate Team too.

EA Play early access only grants 10 hours of gameplay, at least officially.

In previous years, players have found certain workarounds to get longer via in-game glitches. That said, they are typically patched quite quickly by EA after they are discovered. So, no is the answer to this question, unfortunately.

You won’t have long to wait for the real deal, though, as the special editions and standard edition hit the shelves (or online stores) just days after your 10 hours will expire.

FIFA 21 cover star and FUT Ambassadors

FIFA 21 game cases with Kylian Mbappe on the frontEA SPORTS
These are the game cases for FIFA 21 Standard Edition, Champions Edition, and Ultimate Edition.

Following the latest release trailer, we now know Kylian Mbappe will feature as the global cover star of the game. The French striker will be on the front of the Standard, Champions, and Ultimate Editions of the title on release.

Those jumping into EA Access will also notice a number of FUT Ambassadors in and around the Ultimate Team menus. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joao Felix, and Erling Haaland have been selected in those roles.

Other Ambassadors from around the world have also been confirmed. They can be seen below:

  • Mason Mount – Chelsea
  • Phil Foden – Manchester City
  • Steven Bergwijn – Tottenham Hotspurs
  • Georgia Stanway – Manchester City
  • Aaron Connolly – Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Hernandez – AC Milan
  • Martin Odegaard – Real Sociedad
  • Mal Pugh – USWNT
  • Dest – Ajax
  • Reyna – Dortmund
  • Guimaraes – Lyon
  • Gwinn – Bayern Munich

FIFA 21 top 100 ratings

Mbappe cover of FIFA 21EA SPORTS
The Top 100 FIFA 21 ratings have been released, with Mbappe firmly in the top spots.

Last, but not least, EA have confirmed the entire Top 100 ratings in FIFA 21. Knowing who to look out for before early access goes live is key.

The very pinnacle OVR ratings of the sport include the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and more. The full list can be found below:

  • Lionel Messi (93)
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (92)
  • Robert Lewandowski (91)
  • Kevin De Bruyne (91)
  • Neymar (91)
  • Jan Oblak (91)
  • Virgil van Dijk (90)
  • Kylian Mbappe (90)
  • Mo Salah (90)
  • Sadio Mane (90)
  • Marc Andre Ter Stegen (90)
  • Alisson (90)
  • Sergio Ramos (89)
  • Manuel Neuer (89)
  • Sergio Aguero (89)
  • Karim Benzema (89)
  • Casemiro (89)
  • Thibaut Courtois (89)
  • Joshua Kimmich (88)
  • Toni Kroos (88)
  • Eden Hazard (88)
  • Raheem Sterling (88)
  • Samir Handanović (88)
  • Kalidou Koulibaly (88)
  • Harry Kane (88)
  • Ederson (88)
  • Paulo Dybala (88)
  • N’Golo Kante (88)
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold (87)
  • Giorgio Chiellini (87)
  • Hugo Lloris (87)
  • Luis Suarez (87)
  • Luka Modric (87)
  • Angel Di Maria (87)
  • Wojciech Szczęsny (87)
  • Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (87)
  • Sergio Busquets (87)
  • Ciro Immobile (87)
  • Keylor Navas (87)
  • Antoine Griezmann (87)
  • Son-Heung-Min (87)
  • Roberto Firmino (87)
  • Fabinho (87)
  • Jadon Sancho (87)
  • Aymeric Laporte (87)
  • Andrew Robertson (87)
  • Bernardo Silva (87)
  • Bruno Fernandes (87)
  • Alejandro Gomez (86)
  • Gerard Pique (86)
  • Yann Sommer (86)
  • David Silva (86)
  • Mats Hummels (86)
  • Jordan Henderson (86)
  • Jordi Alba (86)
  • Thomas Muller (86)
  • David de Gea (86)
  • Paul Pogba (86)
  • Marco Verratti (86)
  • Raphael Varane (86)
  • Dani Carvajal (86)
  • Jamie Vardy (86)
  • Thiago Silva (85)
  • Dries Mertens (85)
  • Miralem Pjanic (85)
  • Gini Wijnaldum (85)
  • Diego Godin (85)
  • Toby Alderweireld (85)
  • Leonardo Bonucci (85)
  • Péter Gulacsi (85)
  • Marco Reus (85)
  • Kyle Walker (85)
  • Thiago (85)
  • Dani Parejo (85)
  • Christian Eriksen (85)
  • Alex Sandro (85)
  • Romelu Lukaku (85)
  • Bernd Leno (85)
  • Koke (85)
  • Lorenzo Insigne (85)
  • Luis Alberto (85)
  • Mauro Icardi (85)
  • Memphis Depay (85)
  • Riyad Mahrez (85)
  • Serge Gnabry (85)
  • Marquinhos (85)
  • Hakim Ziyech (85)
  • Ricardo Pereira (85)
  • Timo Werner (85)
  • Clement Lenglet (85)
  • Leroy Sane (85)
  • Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (85)
  • Frenkie De Jong (85)
  • Gianluigi Donnarumma (85)
  • Marcus Rashford (85)
  • Rodri (85)
  • Milan Skriniar (85)
  • Matthijs de Ligt (85)
  • Kai Havertz (85)
  • Erling Haaland (84)

So, there you have it. That’s everything we know so far about EA Play early access. Follow us on Twitter @UltimateTeamUK for more FIFA news.

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