FIFA 16: Breaking Down Regional Covers and Newest Features
FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi is again the face of the FIFA video game series. He will appear on the cover of the game for the fourth year in a row, but he'll have some company.
There's a total of eight regional covers set to be available with FIFA 16 when the game releases on Sept. 22 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. For the first time, women will be represented in the game.
Because of this, they will be on three of the eight covers, including the cover of the United States version. Here's a look at three of the covers:
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Here's a list of the stars who will appear on the cover with Messi in their respective regions:
| United States | Alex Morgan |
| Canada | Christine Sinclair |
| UK and Ireland | Jordan Henderson |
| Australia | Stephanie Catley and Tim Cahill |
| Mexico | Marco Fabian |
| France | Antoine Griezmann |
| Latin America | Juan Cuadrado |
| Japan | Shinji Kagawa |
FUT Draft
FIFA will introduce an exciting new game mode to its feature set this year called FIFA Ultimate Team Draft. It's similar to Draft Champions in Madden 16. Gamers are charged with building a squad of five players at each position from the entire Ultimate Team database.
Your team will compete in four matches on or offline to win a reward. As you progress, the rewards will grow. It's a cool way to get the best players in the FUT universe in the hands of gamers who may not have acquired the Messis and Cristiano Ronaldos of the world through traditional Ultimate Team play.
It's also a quick-play option that could become addictive.
Here's how EA Sports described it:
"Experience an all-new way to play FIFA with FUT Draft. Build out a squad by choosing one of five players in each position from the entire Ultimate Team database, and compete in up to four consecutive games to earn rewards along the way.
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Over 450 New Starheads
"FIFA 16 | James, Benzema, Isco, Ronaldo. #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/q2qALK5hKl
— RMadridAddicted (@RMadridAddicted) July 22, 2015"
Soccer is a team game, but much of the appeal is still about the stars. FIFA apparently understands that and has expended the time, effort and resources to accurately scan in more than 450 new starheads, per EA Sports.
The newly scanned players span the globe, gender and even different eras. The official website for the game says: "In addition to Barclays Premier League players and athletes from Women's National Teams, we have also captured the likeness of some FUT Legends, and players from the major clubs in Spain and other leagues around the world."
With the new additions, gamers can look forward to seeing the likenesses of almost every major star of the sport.
New Stadiums
There are 78 total stadiums available in FIFA 16. Of those, 50 are licensed, and nine of them are new to the series. Per EA Sports, here's a list of them with the new ones labeled:
| Argentine Primera Division | |
| La Bombonera - Boca Juniors | |
| El Monumental - River Plate | New |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Anfield - Liverpool FC | |
| Boleyn Ground - West Ham United | |
| Britannia Stadium - Stoke City | |
| Carrow Road - Norwich City | New |
| Emirates Stadium - Arsenal | |
| Etihad Stadium - Manchester City | |
| Goodison Park - Everton | |
| King Power Stadium - Leicester City | |
| Liberty Stadium - Swansea City | |
| Old Trafford - Manchester United | |
| Selhurst Park - Crystal Palace | |
| St James' Park - Newcastle United | |
| St Mary's Stadium - Southampton | |
| Stadium of Light - Sunderland | |
| Stamford Bridge - Chelsea FC | |
| The Hawthorns - West Bromwich Albion | |
| Vicarage Road - Watford | New |
| Vitality Stadium - Bournemouth | New |
| Villa Park - Aston Villa | |
| White Hart Lane - Tottenham Hotspur | |
| English Championship | |
| Loftus Road - Queens Park Rangers | |
| The KC Stadium - Hull City | |
| Turf Moor - Burnley | |
| English League Two | |
| Fratton Park - Portsmouth | New |
| Bundesliga | |
| Allianz Arena - Bayern Munich, TSV 1860 Munchen | |
| Borussia Park - Borussia Monchengladbach | New |
| Volksparkstadion - Hamburger SV | |
| Olympiastadion - Hertha BSC | |
| Signal Iduna Park - Borussia Dortmund | |
| Veltins-Arena - FC Schalke 04 | |
| Eredivisie | |
| Amsterdam Arena – Ajax | |
| International Stadium | |
| Wembley Stadium – England | |
| La Liga | |
| Camp Nou - FC Barcelona | |
| Estadio Vicente Calderon - Atletico de Madrid | |
| Mestalla - Valencia | |
| Santiago Bernabéu - Real Madrid | |
| Liga MX | |
| Estadio Azteca - Club America | |
| Ligue 1 | |
| Parc des Princes - Paris Saint-Germain | |
| Stade Gerland - Olympique Lyonnais | |
| Stade Velodrome - Olympique de Marseille | New |
| Major League Soccer | |
| BC Place Stadium - Vancouver Whitecaps | |
| CenturyLink Field - Seattle Sounders FC | New |
| Serie A | |
| Juventus Stadium - Juventus | |
| San Siro/Stadio Giuseppe Meazza - AC Milan, Inter | |
| Stadio Olimpico - Lazio, Roma | |
| Saudi Abdul Latif Jameel League | |
| King Abdullah Sports City - Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli | New |
| King Fahd International Stadium - Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Shabab | |
| Rest of the World | |
| Donbass Arena - Shakhtar Donetsk | |
| Generic Stadiums | |
| Al Jayeed Stadium | |
| Aloha Park | |
| Arena del Centenario | |
| Arena d'Oro | |
| Court Lane | |
| Crown Lane | |
| Eastpoint Arena | |
| El Grandioso | |
| El Libertador | |
| Estadio de las Artes | |
| Estadio El Medio | |
| Estadio Presidente G.Lopes | |
| Euro Park | |
| Forest Park Stadium | |
| Ivy Lane | |
| Molton Road | |
| O Dromo | |
| Sanderson Park | |
| Stade Municipal | |
| Stadio Classico | |
| Stadion 23. Maj | |
| Stadion Europa | |
| Stadion Hanguk | |
| Stadion Neder | |
| Stadion Olympik | |
| Town Park | |
| Union Park Stadium | |
| Waldstadion |
Of the new stadiums included, the one that looks the most stunning is Stade Velodrome (Olympique de Marseille, Ligue 1). It looks regal and modern. TheSPORTbible on Twitter agreed:
To see a list of all of the new features in FIFA 16 check out EASports.com. Also be sure to check back with Bleacher Report on Sept. 22 for a full review.
Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
