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Looking Back at Journey Mode: EA SPORTS FIFA’s Long Shot

Posted by: Christian Silvestri in FIFA 23 August 25, 2023 329 Views

The world of video games has witnessed a remarkable evolution over the years, with technological advancements enabling developers to create immersive and engaging experiences that transcend traditional forms of entertainment.

One such evolution has been the integration of narrative-driven modes within sports simulation games. Among these, “The Journey” in the FIFA franchise stands as a pioneering example, revolutionizing how players engage with the virtual world of soccer.

A New Era of Storytelling in Sports Games

Traditionally, sports simulation games like FIFA focused primarily on delivering realistic gameplay experiences, letting players assume the roles of their favorite athletes or teams on the digital field.

However, with the introduction of “Journey Mode,” the landscape of sports gaming changed forever. This new narrative-driven game mode offered players an immersive storytelling experience intertwined with the familiar mechanics of soccer gameplay.

Introduced in FIFA 17, “The Journey” allowed players to step into the shoes of Alex Hunter, a young and aspiring footballer trying to make his mark in the competitive world of professional soccer.

The mode was divided into chapters, each representing a crucial phase in Alex’s journey, both on and off the field. From his early days as a talented but unproven prospect to his rise to stardom, players were able to shape Alex’s destiny through their decisions and performance on the pitch.

Interactive Storytelling

What set “ The Journey ” apart was its interactive storytelling approach. Players didn’t just control the gameplay; they also influenced the narrative trajectory through dialogue choices and critical decisions.

These choices affected not only Alex’s relationships with teammates, coaches, and friends but also his professional opportunities and personal life. This interactive element blurred the lines between traditional video games and interactive cinema, creating a unique fusion that resonated with both gamers and soccer enthusiasts.

The emotional depth of the story was further enhanced by the inclusion of cinematic cutscenes featuring high-quality graphics and lifelike animations.

These cutscenes allowed players to connect with the characters on a more personal level, evoking a sense of empathy and investment in Alex’s journey. The mode wasn’t just about winning matches; it was about the emotional rollercoaster that comes with pursuing a dream against all odds.

Celebrities and Realism

Adding a layer of authenticity to “Journey Mode,” FIFA enlisted real-world football personalities to make appearances in the narrative. Players encountered established footballers, managers, and pundits, blurring the line between the virtual and real soccer world.

This integration not only added credibility to the story but also provided a unique sense of immersion, as players interacted with both fictional and real characters throughout Alex’s journey.

Evolution and Legacy

As the years went by, the FIFA franchise continued to refine and expand “Journey Mode.” Subsequent iterations introduced new characters, storylines, and gameplay mechanics, ensuring that the experience remained fresh and engaging.

While the mode faced criticism for occasionally straying into melodramatic territory, it undeniably pushed the boundaries of what a sports simulation game could offer in terms of narrative depth.

However, all good things must come to an end. The final chapter of Alex Hunter’s story was told in FIFA 19, as EA Sports decided to retire the character and shift their focus towards other modes and innovations.

The legacy of “Journey Mode,” however, remains firmly intact. It not only opened the door for similar narrative-driven modes in other sports games but also showcased the potential for emotional storytelling in genres beyond traditional role-playing games.

“The Journey” is a testament to the gaming industry’s capacity for innovation and evolution. The introduction of narrative-driven elements within the context of a sports simulation game marked a turning point in how players engage with virtual sports.

Through the lens of Alex Hunter’s journey, players experienced the highs and lows of a footballer’s life, making decisions that influenced not only the outcome of matches but also the course of personal relationships and professional opportunities.

“The Journey” mode stands as a milestone that bridged the gap between interactive storytelling and sports simulation, leaving a lasting impact on the gaming landscape.

About Christian Silvestri

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FIFA 18 The Journey 2 tips: complete spoilers on its ending, length, and all Ultimate Team rewards

Alex Hunter is back for a second season as part of FIFA 18 , with his sophomore campaign extending beyond the Premier League to Brazil, USA and a European country of your choosing. The Journey: Hunter Returns is split into six chapters, each delivering a sweet Ultimate Team reward upon completion. 

The entire mode took me around 14 hours to finish, though you can do it faster by skipping training, and declining an option at the end of Chapter 5. Below is everything that happens in The Journey 2, including the ending and all FUT unlockables. Spoilers ahead, obviously.

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Chapter 1: The Life

After a brief recap of last year’s storyline – which climaxed in a cup final match against friend-turned-foe Gareth Walker – you join Hunter and friend Danny Williams in Brazil, for a FIFA-Street-style kickaround. It’s an early highlight. After that it’s on to Los Angeles for a pre-season tournament, with Hunter’s estranged dad turning up outside the Stubhub Center after one fixture, looking to reconcile the pair’s differences. 

Alex is frosty at the idea, but pops goes on to have a key role in this year’s story. A scene swapping shirts with Cristiano Ronaldo, following a friendly with Real Madrid, amuses thanks to Ronny’s hammy acting, while rumours of Alex moving away from his current club begin to emerge.

FUT 18 reward for completion: 1x Real Madrid loan player, 1x MLS loan player

Chapter 2: Stay Or Leave?

Alex partakes in a sit-down interview with Rio Ferdinand on a TV show called ‘Ones To Watch’ – a smart nod to a particular type of special card in Ultimate Team. He also runs into Walker while at the studio, and the option to make amends is included as a conversational choice. 

Alex's agent reports interest from Real Madrid, only to discover that it’s all a ruse. Having burned bridges with his current Premier League club, Alex appears to be caught in limbo as the transfer deadline approaches. A lifeline comes via a video call from his dad: now scouting in the US, he facilities a loan move to LA Galaxy.

FUT 18 reward for completion: 1x Rio Ferdinand loan item

Chapter 3: A New Galaxy

Alex is approached by a teenage girl while in the LA Galaxy dressing room, who – it transpires – is his paternal half-sister, Kim. His mum visits from the UK and expresses her regret at never having told him about his secret relative, and he seeks to build a relationship with his new sibling. 

On the pitch, Alex helps Galaxy qualify for the play-offs. A friendship with LA striker Gyasi Zardes, who made disparaging comments towards Hunter ahead of a pre-season match in Chapter 1, is also formed. 

FUT 18 reward for completion: 1x Gyasi Zardes loan item

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Chapter 4: The Great Equaliser

Attending a lavish party hosted by Thierry Henry, Hunter reveals to the French legend that he has tickets to watch his sister play football that night; she’s an American international and is on the bench for a game against Germany. Hunter heads to the match, at which point you take control of Kim once she’s introduced as a substitute. 

As for his own career, a major chapter goal is to lead Galaxy to MLS Cup glory. Once the play-offs are complete, Hunter moves back to London – after presenting Kim with their granddad’s treasured football – and learns of interest from three European clubs: Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and Paris St Germain. The chapter ends with you making your choice of next move from that trio. I selected Bayern. 

FUT 18 reward for completion: 1x Thierry Henry loan item

Chapter 5: Knock-Back

Hunter kicks off his European career with a frenzied press conference, before being called into coach Simone 'Dino' Agostino’s (returning from the Journey 1) office to recommend a new signing. Your choices are Thomas Muller, Antoine Griezmann or Dele Alli, and the selection affects future cut-scenes and on-pitch performances; your match ratings improve by nurturing a strike partnership with your chosen player. I went for Greizmann.

It isn’t long before Alex is struck down by injury mid-match. He’s diagnosed with a Grade 3 meniscus tear, and sent home to London to recuperate. At this point, you get to instead play as Danny Williams, who’s been signed by Hunter’s original club.

The Williams element of this chapter affects game length by around 90 minutes. After a meeting with your first team coach discussing Danny’s future prospects, you can elect to continue playing as him, or skip to Chapter 6. Progressing as Williams sets up a Carabao Cup Final date at Wembley; like last year’s FA Cup Final, your opponent is Gareth Walker’s West Ham. After the match, if you win, you get to offer Walker commiserations in the tunnel, or cockily brush him off.

FUT 18 reward for completion: 1x Danny Williams item (permanent)

Chapter 6: Win Together, Lose Alone

You begin the final chapter in LA, finishing your recovery. A crossing and finishing session with Kim inside an empty Stubhub Center is a neat inclusion, before you say your farewells to sister and dad and head back to Germany [or France, or Spain, depending on which club you chose earlier]. Dino and Griezmann [or Alli, or Muller] welcome your return, as Bayern [or PSG, or Atletico] push for honours in both league and cup.

After finishing the season Alex returns to London, to see his mum, and then takes granddad for his first ever visit to the States. Granddad meets Kim, and while having lunch at a diner Alex receives a phone call from an unknown number. He steps outside and the voice on the other end of the line introduces herself as super-agent Beatrice Villanova. She wants to take over his business affairs, and suggests meeting to discuss his next move. The final line of the mode belongs to Villanova: “You pick the city, I pick the restaurant.”

The very clear implication is that Hunter will be back for a third season in FIFA 19.

FUT 18 reward for completion: 1x Alex Hunter item (permanent), 1x Antoine Griezmann loan item, 1x Thomas Muller loan item, 1x Dele Alli loan item 

[Yes, you really do get four FUT rewards for completing The Journey 2.]

FIFA 18 is out on 29 September. For further reading, be sure to check out the GamesRadar+ review .

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FIFA 18 The Journey: Hunter Returns walkthrough - all Journey rewards, objectives, and story choices explained

Everything you need to know to get the most of FIFA 18's story mode sequel.

The Journey: Hunter Returns , if you hadn't guessed from the name, sees FIFA's dedicated story mode, and its titular star Alex Hunter, return again.

Here in our FIFA 18 The Journey: Hunter Returns walkthrough , we'll take you through everything you need to know about the season-long story from start to finish, from FIFA 18's Journey rewards and objectives to the essential story mode decisions so you can continue Hunter's meteoric rise and pick up some handy bonuses along the way, too.

FIFA 18 The Journey: Hunter Returns Walkthrough

The Journey this year is split into six Chapters, plus a short Prologue at the start. Below you'll find our walkthrough pages for each step of the way:

The Journey: Hunter Returns Walkthrough:

• FIFA 18 The Journey: Hunter Returns Prologue
• FIFA 18 The Journey: Hunter Returns Chapter 1 - The Life
• FIFA 18 The Journey: Hunter Returns Chapter 2 - Back in Business
• FIFA 18 The Journey: Hunter Returns Chapter 3 - A New Galaxy
• FIFA 18 The Journey: Hunter Returns Chapter 4 - The Great Equaliser
• FIFA 18 The Journey: Hunter Returns Chapter 5 - Knock-Back
• FIFA 18 The Journey: Hunter Returns Chapter 6 - Win Together, Lose Alone

Aside from those specific pages, read on below for a more general explanation of how The Journey works, plus our tips to bear in mind as you play.

What you need to know about The Journey: Hunter Returns - rewards, length, available clubs

Whilst we haven't been able to play through The Journey enough times to decipher the outcome of every single decision and performance, we do know the overall structure and several different conclusions to the story of Alex Hunter. We'll start with the basics:

• What do you do in The Journey? - The Journey involves a combination of training exercises, matches, conversations, and cutscenes, with a bit of Twitter feed checking thrown in. You'll split your playing time roughly 50-50 between training and matches, whilst conversations only happen sporadically, such as after man of the match performances or at significant milestones and story-driven moments.
• Does Alex Hunter improve over time? - Yes, in fact it's the main hook that keeps you interested in playing for longer, outside of the story itself. As you train and perform well in matches, Hunter's individual attributes like Short Passing, Finishing, etc. - and thus his Overall rating - will gradually increase. Each time your Overall rating goes up a level, you'll also receive a number of Skill Points to spend on individual Traits. Unlocking one of these will either increase a particular attribute by a few levels, or grant you a Trait much like those on standard players, like Swerve Passing or five star Skill Moves.
• What clubs can you play for in The Journey? - In Hunter Returns, you have the choice of either playing starting off by playing for the same club you started at in the original Journey, by importing your old Alex Hunter, or you can choose your Premier League club by starting a fresh save. Bear in mind though that, minor spoilers ahead, this won't be your club forever!
• How do you 'win' or 'lose' The Journey? - We'll go into this in more detail just below, but in brief there isn't a clear case for 'winning' or completing The Journey in one specific way. Generally, your goal is to balance popularity with your manager, and popularity with your 'followers'. Keeping them both happy will mean you can continue along your journey for as long as possible, with the greatest possible outcome for Alex (ad this time his friends and family, too). Making them significantly unhappy will result in reduced playing time and, ultimately, the end of the road for Alex Hunter, so basically just try to win everything to get the best ending.

• How much do your decisions and conversations affect the story in The Journey - Honestly, not very much. Generally different dialogue options will affect that cutscene in which they occur, but have next to no repurcussions down the line. The only thing to bear in mind is your manager's opinion of you and your follower count - hitting certain numbers of followers trigger unlocks to your character's appearance, and keeping your manager happy keeps you in the first team (although this can be done with good performances alone). Otherwise, we found that whether you gave a diplomatic press interview or told your bratty rival where to shove it didn't do anything for the story at large aside from make that cuscene dialogue play out a little differently.
• How long is The Journey? - The Journey lasts around 20 hours at most, which includes performing each training session and match manually without simulating anything, and achieving the longest possible story arc. The Journey will finish at the end of the season - in late May - at the latest.
• Can you fail The Journey? - Yes. If you performances dip too low - say you get a few 6/10s in a row - then regardless of your standing in the first team, you'll start getting hints that you need to buck your ideas up, before your manager eventually tells you that enough is enough and you need to reload an earlier save to progress.
• What rewards are there for playing The Journey? - The Journey offers players a handful of rewards, which are earned simply by playing through the story one chapter at a time. You'll receive set FUT loan players depending on the chapter, along with a Danny Williams card and Alex Hunter card, permanently, for your FUT squad near the end of the Journey. Check out the individual pages linked above for each chapter's specific rewards.
• Can you get injured in The Journey, and what happens if you do? - Yes you can, however if it happens by accident then it never actually rules you out for a game. There's also a certain scripted event that affects the story, but we won't dive any further here - read through our chapter guides above if you want to know!

Looking for more on FIFA 18? We've gathered all our individual guides together in our main FIFA 18 tips and guide hub, and if you're playing the game's campaign-like story mode, we have a full Journey: Hunter Returns walkthrough . There are also lists of FIFA 18 wonderkids and the best young players , FIFA 18 player ratings , the best strikers , best wingers , best midfielders , best defenders and best goalkeepers . Elsewhere, we have details on five star skillers and skill moves listed , how to score free kicks, penalties and set pieces , and the FIFA 18 best players by position . Fan of Ultimate Team? we look at FIFA 18 Chemistry explained , the new January 2018 and original OTW Ones to Watch cards , along with best Chemistry Styles for each position , and finally how to earn FIFA Coins quickly and for free .

Other advice you should know before playing The Journey: Hunter Returns in FIFA 18

Throughout The Journey, you'll find that you're incentivised to do a couple of things: keep the manager happy, and get more followers. It's not made totally clear why you'll want to do that though, or how exactly those things are affected, so we've put together a few tips on getting a happy gaffer and healthy fanbase, alongside some general tips for success in The Journey story mode.

• Social media followers, manager happiness, and money are all linked together. Fiery responses in publicly-broadcast dialogue will get you more followers, whilst cool options in any situation the manager is aware of will make him happier. A happy manager is key to getting more game time, which you'll need to do if you want to play every game and get the longest possible playthrough, whilst followers are key to unlocking specific cutscenes.
• It's possible, however, to achieve everything without worrying about our dialogue. Whilst training performance only affects your manager's impressions of you, match performance affects both. Training well and racking up the goals and assists on the pitch will make both your manager and fans happy - in fact we split our reponses evenly between fiery, cool, and balanced, and still maxed out manager happiness and picked up sponsorships through solid performances on the pitch. Letting your football do the talking is all you need to do.
• If you find in-game performances tough - and they can be at times - then you can of course tweak your chances of success by going for cooler responses in dialogue options, keeping your manager happy enough to play you. Manager happiness is much more important than followers, ultimately, as he's the one who decides whether you're kept, sold, played, or left on the bench.

• As a general tip, it's worth noting that the in-game camera angle can be changed. We thought the 'Be a Pro' angle was the only one, which is incredibly awkward to deal with at times, until we logged on on a different PS4 to see the camera angle was back to the normal one, as if you'd selected to play as a team instead of just Hunter. Pop into the settings to change it.
• Some will find playing as Alex Hunter in matches it much easier than playing as the whole team, when it comes to getting a good rating. You might be used to playing as a team, but it's worth learning to adapt to playing as just Hunter. Aside from just being a nice breath of fresh air from standard FIFA gameplay, controlling just Alex allows you to significantly affect how often he gets on the ball and affects the game. You can drop deep to win it back from the computer which is still focused on posession on higher difficulties, and likewise build up play through you by calling for it and working it forwards. Teammate decisions can be a little wonky, but it's still much easier than relying on a 71-rated Alex Hunter's AI to get him into good positions for your pass in team-control mode.
• You can instruct other players to perform most actions you could if controlling them as a team normally. Threaded through balls, lob passes, airial through balls, shots, closing down players, and more are all available as commands to your teammates through 'shouting' at them as Alex Hunter. Simply press the button you normally would if controlling them to instruct the AI to perform an action. Mastering this is enormously helpful for success on the field.
• That being said, playing as a team can make life considerably easier when it comes to working with your Strike Partner, as you can control them and the team a little better in the build-up phases to set up the right assists at the right times.
• Spend skill points wisely. It's unlikely, if not impossible, that you'll earn enough skill points to unlock everything. With that in mind, think about your playstile and your position. Hunter's Penalties, for instance, start down in the 40s or 50s - is spending precious Skill Points to level that up to the mid 50s worth it when you could be adding extra pace, stamina, passing, and five-star skill moves?

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• What happened to the cast of FIFA's 'The Journey' mode in real life

Tomiwa Edun, who played Alex Hunter, has appeared on several TV shows since his appearance in 'The Journey' mode.

Jack Kenmare

It's been seven years since EA Sports introduced The Journey to their FIFA franchise; a mode that followed fictional character Alex Hunter in his journey from Clapham Common under-11's to the Premier League and beyond.

After a penalty shootout on a muddy pitch in south west London, the story jumped ahead seven years to an “exit trial” at the National Football Academy, where Alex and his best friend [soon to be bitter rival] Gareth Walker compete to impress Premier League scouts.

The rest, as they say, is history. But seven years on from the much-loved game mode, where are the actors and actresses who played these virtual characters? Tomiwa Edun, who headlined the series as Alex Hunter, has featured in one of the most popular television shows in British history.

Lewis Reeves, the man who played Gareth Walker, is even starring in TV adverts these days, although the 'snake' nickname has followed his own journey beyond FIFA.

Tomiwa Edun (Alex Hunter)

Edun, from Lagos, Nigeria, played The Journey mode's main protagonist Alex Hunter.

Ahead of filming in 2016, the 39-year-old was an accomplished British film and television actor with previous credits including Doctor Who, Merlin, Bates Motel and Elementary.

He studied classics at Cambridge and acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and went on to star in a number of Shakespearean plays around the UK before breaking into film and television.

Since the final Journey Mode storyline, Edun remains a respected figure in the world of acting. He's bagged a number of TV roles, including appearances in Young Wallander, The Capture, The Chelsea Detective and the latest episode of ITV's Trigger Point .

According to his IMDB profile, Edun was a voice actor in popular video game Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.

"For me, doing 'The Journey' allowed me to explore a 'what if' aspect of my own life," Edun told VICE in 2016.

"What if I'd been born at a slightly different time, and my own life had taken a different trajectory, and this opportunity had come my way? Because who doesn't want to make it in the Premier League? So many of us have had that dream. So I got to sort of live out that fantasy."

Chris Walters (Danny Williams)

Walters, a Vancouver-based actor from London, played the role of Alex’s best friend Danny Williams in The Journey mode.

Before filming his role as lovable rogue Williams, he trained in acting at The Poor School in London and had a prolific theatre career before breaking into screen acting, according to the EA Sports website .

He appeared in independent films such as Shooting the Musical and FSM , as well as television shows and short films in the UK and Canada.

According to his IMDB page, Williams has enjoyed a number of roles in the TV industry since filming the final Journey Mode series, including a part in the war film Beyond the Line.

He most recently featured in Netflix show Chilling Adventures of Sabrina – a supernatural horror drama created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.

"It was very fun being Danny Williams," Walters told GOAL in 2019. "He did get bigger as the series went on but then I think that allowed them to write in the quieter moments he had in FIFA 19, when he was by himself in his own apartment and losing all his stuff."

Lewis Reeves (Gareth Walker)

Reeves, from Doncaster in England, went from winning a cup final on Clapham Common to going head-to-head with bitter rival Alex Hunter in the Journey Mode.

We watched a young Walker go from innocent friend to a cocky and arrogant character in the storyline.

In real life, the much more likable Reeves earned his BA in acting from the Royal Welsh School of Music and Drama, and later starred in the West End with a role in Our Boys.

The 35-year-old has gone on to appear in a number of popular TV shows, including Misfits, Law & Order: UK, Unforgotten and Crazyhead – and even starred in last year's Audi Christmas advert.

Speaking to SPORTbible in 2021 , he told the story about a kid who waited for him at the stage door after one of his shows in Bath, just so he could call him a snake.

"I still find it funny when people pop up online with my other work on TV and someone will screenshot my face with whatever I'm doing," he told us.

"It's generally along the lines of, 'WTF is Gareth Walker doing as a police officer' or 'who let this snake on my Netflix account?' I always find it funny and love the banter to be fair."

Lisa Solberg (Kim Hunter)

Solberg, another Vancouver-based actress originally from Sydney, Australia, first made an appearance in the Journey Mode on FIFA 18, where she played the half-sister of then-LA Galaxy forward Alex Hunter.

Prior to Lisa's role in Hunter Returns , her first major screen debut was alongside Canadian country music artist Brett Kissel in the video for his song Airwaves, which has over 2 million views on YouTube.

She also appeared in short films such as The Big Cut and Erebus.

According to her IMDB profile, Solberg has featured in two TV shows – Batwoman and Chesapeake Shores – since FIFA 19, as well as the short film Red Moon.

Speaking to FTBL in 2018 about landing the role in The Journey mode, she said: "I had just recently moved to Vancouver from Toronto and 'FIFA 18 The Journey' was one of my first auditions here.

"So, as I was sitting in the audition room I realised everyone else had three scenes auditioning for Kim Hunter and I only had one. Turns out I didn't get sent the other two scenes so I only had 20 minutes to memorise and prepare an extra five pages.

"I got called back a few days later for a 2nd round audition and a week later I found out I booked the role.

"The funny thing is I didn't know what I had booked until I went to the wardrobe fitting and found out it was FIFA! I was completely shocked and as you can imagine very excited."

Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Catherine Hunter )

Duncan-Brewster, a London native, played Alex Hunter's mother Catherine in the Journey Mode on FIFA 18.

Prior to her stint on EA's much-loved series, she has enjoyed a host of TV and film appearances, including EastEnders, Doctor Who, and Star Wars: Rogue One. She is also known for her role as Crystal Gordon in Bad Girls .

Sharon has continued to be a regular on our screens since the Journey Mode ended, featuring on Sex Education, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Earth Mama and Dune.

Topics:  FIFA , FIFA 17 , FIFA 18 , FIFA 19 , EA Sports , EA Sports FC , Gaming

Senior Journalist at SPORTbible with a passion for long-form journalism. Almost 10 years’ experience across online and print.

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Fun fact, this is Wale Edun’s son. Tomiwa Edun

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Making EA SPORTS™ FIFA 17 The Journey

More than two years in the making, FIFA 17 The Journey is an all-new and innovative addition to the franchise. The Journey lets you live the story of the Premier League's next rising star, Alex Hunter, where every decision, every action, every moment impacts your attempt to rise to the highest level of the game.

Take a look behind the scenes as we brought Alex's story to life with the help of some of those who know just what it takes to get to the top.

The emotional highs and lows experienced by Alex are highlighted by an an original score composed especially for The Journey by Oscar and Grammy award-winning composer Atticus Ross. Amplified by Ross' arrangement, The Journey's soundtrack will pull you through Hunter's story and invest you in his attempts to progress through the game. Kasabian's 'Comeback Kid' makes its debut on the FIFA 17 soundtrack and is featured during the opening credits of The Journey - get an exclusive first look below:

Input from real players including Harry Kane and Anthony Martial helped ground Alex Hunter's journey in reality, giving you an authentic experience of the types of challenges a professional footballer will face as they strive to get to the top of the game.

We spent time with Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, who is as an Authenticity Consultant for The Journey. Rashford's performance over the past 12 months has thrust him into the limelight, a position from which he's well-versed to advise all about the pressure of hitting the world stage:

“There are ups and down for all footballers and that’s shown in Alex’s journey. You just have to try to stay level throughout and not get too high when things are going well or too low when things aren’t quite as good.”

Read more about Rashford's journey

In order to make Alex's progress through the game both on and off-pitch as authentic as possible, we've harnessed the power of Frostbite* to create the new worlds you'll visit in The Journey.

“Without Frostbite, a story this immersive doesn't happen. The move over to Frostbite gave us the opportunity and the tools required to create the scenes and environments necessary for The Journey. The Frostbite engine has given us a lot of incredible games many of which featured story modes and it was the perfect vehicle for us to bring a story into FIFA.” - Mat Prior, Creative Director

Check out more on what Frostbite brings to FIFA 17

More on developing FIFA 17 The Journey

As you play through The Journey, Hunter will come into direct contact with some of the world's best players, playing both with and against some of football's leading figures. He'll also get the chance to play under authentic managers, who are in the game for the first time in FIFA 17 at Premier League clubs.

Going out on loan

Alex will have difficult challenges and decisions to face as he begins life as a professional. One of these choices includes a loan spell at one of three clubs from The Championship - Norwich City, Aston Villa, or Newcastle United.

*Frostbite and The Journey only available on Xbox One, Playstation 4, and PC.

RELATED NEWS

Fifa 17 now available in the vault - ea access and origin access, fifa 17 pro player tournament, fifa 17 skill games.

• Fictional Players
• The Journey Players
• Fifa Players
• Any team Players
• English Players
• FIFA 17 players
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• English players
• The Journey

Alex Hunter

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Alex Hunter , born on the 6th of July 1999, is a fictional professional footballer and the main protagonist of The Journey .

• 1 Biography
• 6 Ultimate Team Card and more
• 7.1 FIFA 17
• 7.2 FIFA 18
• 7.3 FIFA 19

Biography [ ]

FIFA 19 The Journey Champions Official Story Trailer ft. Hunter, Neymar, De Bruyne

Alex Hunter was born in Clapham, London and took part in youth football on Clapham Common along with his childhood friend Gareth Walker . His grandfather, Jim Hunter, who is known for scoring 22 goals in the 1968-69 season, helps to guide him on his own football path. Alex's mother, Catherine, is a designer while his father Harold was a football player in his youth who suffered an injury and his career cut short.

FIFA 17 [ ]

Alex Hunter takes part in a cup final game along with his best friend Gareth Walker at 10 years of age in the summer of 2009. The game ends with either Alex or Gareth scoring the winning penalty in a penalty shoot-out. After the game, the scout George Baker, who was at the game, approaches Jim and tells him of Alex potential. Seven years passes and Alex and Gareth are both invited to an Exit Trial for youth. Alex makes an impression and signs with any Premier League club of his choice. Not long after, Alex discovers that Gareth joins the same team.

Both players play in the club's pre-season tour of the United States, facing off against opponents Real Madrid C.F. , Borussia Dortmund , and Paris Saint-Germain . Alex begins the proper season as a substitute. Not long after, Alex's club signs either Harry Kane or Ángel Di María and as a result, Alex is loaned out to either Newcastle United F.C. , Aston Villa F.C. , or Norwich City F.C. . Alex impresses during the Championship on his load and becomes friends with Danny Williams , his former rival. Once he returns to his Premier League club, he finds out that his best friend Gareth has left to join the club's rivals.

Alex receives a sponsorship deal from Adidas and receives new boots, a photo shoot, and the chance to appear in an advertisement along with Di Maria. Alex has a successful season in the starting rotation and gets the start in the FA Cup Final. He faces Gareth for the second time after his departure from the club (the first time was at the season final). The childhood friends encounter each other in the tunnel before the game begins. Regardless of the result of the game, Alex and Gareth shake hands after the game and rekindle their friendship. Alex returns to his flat and discovers he's been named as a potential player to be called up to the England national football team .

FIFA 18 [ ]

After a successful professional debut, Alex returns as an established player in FIFA 18: The Journey: Hunter Returns . His new goal is to establish himself in international play. Along with his new best friend, Danny Williams, the two play against some Brazilian children during a 3v3 game on holiday. Once returning to England, Alex interviews with Rio Ferdinand. Right after the interview he runs into his old friend Gareth, who couldn't believe that he's still with his agent, Michael Taylor. Alex's team plays Real Madrid during a pre-season tour in Los Angeles. After the game, he swaps shirts with Cristiano Ronaldo , who suggests that Alex should play for Real Madrid. Alex plays against the Los Angeles Galaxy they win against Real Madrid and encounter Gyasi Zardes in the tunnel before the game. Alex sees his father during the tour and accepts a dinner invite from him. After the pre-season tour, Alex and his teammates travel to Chicago where they take part in the Major League Soccer All-Star Game.

After the first game of the Premier Season, Michael tells Alex that Real Madrid are seriously interested in him. Alex submits a transfer request. This result's in Alex's teammates and fans losing faith in his commitment to the team. On the day the deal was about to expire, Alex finds out that the interest from Real Madrid was false. Even after an explanation to the club's executive, he is moved to the youth squad. On deadline day, Michael admits he wanted Alex to sign with Real Madrid to enhance his own career, which leaves Alex furious. Alex has the choice to keep him or fire him. Alex gets a call from his father who offers him a contract for the LA Galaxy, which he accepts.

During his stay in the United States, Alex discovers he has a half-sister named Kim . Though enraged at his father for not telling him about it, all this time, Alex then supports her during her international debut with the United States women's national soccer team against Germany. Before leaving to return to England for the holidays, Alex gives Kim their grandfather's football for luck in future matches. Alex reunites with Danny, who signed with Alex's previous club. He learns that Atlético Madrid , Paris Saint-Germain , and FC Bayern Munich are interested in signing him. Alex chooses one of the teams and arrives to find out that Dino, manager of his former club, is at his new club as well. Alex is paired with Thomas Müller , Antoine Griezmann , or Dele Alli as his strike partner. However, Alex suffers a knee injury and misses for most of the season.

Alex recovers and can save the job of Dino by playing well and winning the league or domestic cup. Without either of those victories, Dino is fired. Once the season is over, Alex takes Jim over to the United States to meet Kim. During his visit, he receives a call from an agent, named Beatriz Villanova, offering to make him an icon.

FIFA 19 [ ]

To be added.

FIFA 20 [ ]

Alex makes a brief appearance during FIFA 20 Volta story mode, appearing alongside his agent Beatriz Villanova during the New York Volta Invitational tournament. He also gets a photo with Syd.

Ultimate Team Card and more [ ]

The FIFA Ultimate Team Card of Alex Hunter is available if the player completes The Journey in FIFA 17, Chapter 6 of The Journey: Hunter Returns in  FIFA 18  and Chapter 4 of The Journey: Champions in FIFA 19 (with Danny Williams FUT card). He will be also available in career mode in FIFA 19 with Danny Williams if the player completes The Journey mode.

• 1 Alex Hunter
• 2 EA Sports FC 24
• 3 Sanderson Park

Den of Geek

Why we’ll miss The Journey in FIFA 20

The Journey is over for Alex Hunter and chums, and we'll miss its decision-driven drama in FIFA 20...

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It doesn’t look like The Journey game mode will be returning in FIFA 20 , with EA’s next footy sim shifting the franchise’s focus onto the new Volta street football mode instead. Seeming like a successor to FIFA Street , Volta will allow gamers to create their own street soccer star that will progress through a story and tackle opponents in smaller matches around the globe.

The Journey will be missed, though. This story-driven mode was first introduced in FIFA 17 , with Tomiwa Edun voicing a player called Alex Hunter that joins the Premier League team of your choice at the start of a new season.

FIFA 18 turned Alex’s best mate into a playable character, with Chris Walters voicing the role of Danny Williams, while Alex departed your original club for pastures new. FIFA 19 saw Alex and Danny competing against one another in the Champions League, rounding off a trilogy nicely, while Lisa Solberg’s Kim Hunter chased glory in the Women’s World Cup.

It has been, for want of another term, quite the journey. And because it’s always worth shouting about the things you love, we thought we’d write a few words about The Journey before the FIFA series moves on towards Volta. Let’s get started with the things we’ll miss, then…

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The decision-making drama

When you’re in its cut scenes, The Journey feels like a Telltale game crossed with a sports simulator (perhaps with a bit of soap opera thrown in for good measure), with tough decisions popping up from time to time to throw you off your game. Perhaps the most memorable one of these moments came in FIFA 18 , with Alex’s agent Michael botching a deal that could’ve taken you to Real Madrid. Your career at your original team is ruined as a result, and the player is asked whether or not they want to fire Michael, which is a very tempting proposition.

A similar situation occurs for Danny in FIFA 19 , but this time Michael isn’t actually the villain: after a spat, choosing to side with Danny’s mate Ringo instead of Michael will result in Ringo’s dodgy investments being revealed and the bailiffs knocking on Danny’s door. This is a neat twist on what you’re expecting, and it makes you think twice about all your future choices.

Choosing between family and work is another conundrum in FIFA 19 , with the importance of Alex’s brand coming up against his desire to spend time with his loved ones. It takes an awkward poolside cameo from Neymar for Alex to realise what’s important in life, and it’s nothing short of triumphant when you get to ditch Alex’s entourage in favour of goofing around with his mum and half-sister.

The emotional connections

Being so invested in Danny, Alex and Kim’s decisions means that you can’t help but get emotionally invested in their individual journies. When Alex’s obsession with his brand puts him in hot water with his manager, for instance, you want to put in the extra effort in training to win the gaffer over. You want your place in the team back, sure, but you also want Alex to be in a better place emotionally.

Danny’s on-going rivalry with his somewhat nasty brother rears its head on numerous occasions as well, and you’ll want to play the game of your life every time you go up against him. You’ll feel genuinely gutted if you lose to him, whether it’s in a training session on the estate or a Champion’s League knockout game. And on the flip-side of that, gaining that final victory for Danny and earning his brother’s rest is a real emotional payoff.

Kim’s desire to race ahead in life is an interesting arc, as well, with numerous people advising her against trying to go pro instead of going to college. We’d never feel this close to individual players in an old fashioned career mode, which is part of what makes The Journey feel so unique. We’ll miss digging this deep into their personal lives, because guiding players in the right direction emotionally as well as tactically is something quite special.

The stories left untold

The Journey did feel like a finished product at the end of FIFA 19 ‘s instalment, but it left us wanting more nonetheless. As with a lot of great story-based games, movie trilogies and TV shows, there’s a lot of mileage to be had in imagining what happened next for these characters. Jim Hunter will surely be proud to see his grandchildren (and Danny) playing together in the sunshine, but he’ll still be following their careers for years to come. It’s a bit sad that we won’t be able to do the same.

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Kim’s story feels particularly unfinished. As we mentioned before, FIFA 19 ‘s Journey hints that a professional career awaits her after a summer of international glory. Which club does she sign for? What struggles does she face? Does she really become a game-changer for women’s football, or is that pressure too much for the youngster to handle? Barring a surprise announcement of more Journey content, it seems likely that we’ll never find out any of those answers.

With Alex and Danny, there are stories left untold as well. Depending on which one you won the Champions League with, the alternate player will need to bounce back in a big way. Alex’s pushy agent is still on the scene, as well, and Danny’s cash troubles haven’t gone away. And we haven’t seen either player called up for international duty yet, either.

We’ve got some closure, sure: it was nice to see Alex and Danny playing together with Kim at the end of FIFA 19 ‘s Journey, and the scene where they shared some FIFA time together was a surprisingly heartfelt meta moment. But if you offered us a chance to play as these characters again, perhaps when the next real-life World Cup occurs, we’d probably bite your hand off.

And until such a dream comeback takes place, we’ll keep on shouting about how much we loved The Journey… a rare slice of emotional single-player drama for the franchise, which will definitely be missed.

FIFA 20 launches on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on 27 September. In the meantime, you might like to check out our coverage of the PES 2020 demo to see how the competition is doing.

Rob Leane | @robleane

Rob Leane has written for this loveable website for over five years. In his spare time, he's caught hundreds of Pokémon and sunk days of his…

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G2A.COM   G2A News Features All FIFA Games: Tracing the Journey from FIFA 93 to the Present

All FIFA Games: Tracing the Journey from FIFA 93 to the Present

The FIFA series started modestly but quickly set the standard for other sports video games, gaining recognition from fans worldwide. Want to see how that happened?

Let’s take a little trip to the past to discover the origins of one of the best football series ever. Exploring the improvements of each game encourages us to find out how this initially simple game became so massive. And with the release of the new EA Sports FC 24 (FIFA 24), we may be able to predict in which direction this football franchise will grow after the dramatic EA and FIFA breakup. Let’s begin!

The Genesis: FIFA 93-99

The 2000s decade: fifa 2000-2009, transitioning to reality: fifa 10-19, current age: fifa 20 and beyond, special editions and spin-offs, the future of fifa, fifa international soccer (1993): the start.

The first FIFA game ever features fictional players and 76 national teams. But don’t let the seemingly simple graphics fool you. The game already provided dynamic character animations, realistic crowd behavior, and beautifully comprehensive team customization.

FIFA 95: Rapid Evolution

This installation did not introduce many changes except for clubs from various European, USA, and Brazil leagues. It also received minor graphics improvements, better AI, a new difficulty level, and intuitive controls. Slight modifications before the rise of a real game-changer!

FIFA 96: Enhanced Graphics Realism

Introducing 3D graphics and real-life players, FIFA 96 set the trend for all following installations. Transfers finally became possible, so players could freely create their ultimate dream teams. But that’s not all, as it was the first FIFA game featuring commentary by John Motson – for a genuinely realistic soccer experience!

FIFA 97: Featuring Indoor Mode

It was the first game to provide an indoor mode and 3D polygonal players instead of 2D sprites. It featured three extra modes – league competitions, friendly matches, and a thrilling world championship tournament. John Motson received the company of Andy Gray and Des Lynman, so the commentary became fiercer than ever. The title also developed customization options so players could freely tailor the rules to their needs.

FIFA 98: Road to World Cup

This game saw EA having fun with some extras, like the punchy Song 2 by Blur in the intro and overall faster gameplay. As the last representative of the 16-bit titles, it featured 173 national teams and an impressive 189 clubs from 11 leagues. But 1997 became the time of another game’s triumph – International Superstar Soccer (later known as Pro Evolution Soccer), which made the entire FIFA series a worthy and dangerous opponent.

FIFA 99: The Era of Club Football

The game didn’t really introduce any groundbreaking changes. Among the new features, you could find different player heights, facial animations, and the lack of indoor mode. Instead, we received the European Dream League mode featuring 20 teams fighting for ultimate victory. Nothing special, so no wonder ISS was this year’s fan-favorite.

FIFA 2000: Major League Soccer Debut

The title did not receive particularly enthusiastic reviews due to too few improvements compared to previous installations. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t any. FIFA 2000 introduced Major League Soccer, new player animations, better physics, and the ability to play consecutive seasons. But the real highlight of this game is the introduction of classic teams, including 1990s AC Milan, 1960s Manchester United, and the 1954 Hungarian team. Not radical, but positively intriguing!

FIFA 2001: Breakthrough in Graphics

Fans enthusiastic about better changes welcomed this title with great joy, as it provided several solutions remaining with us today. EA decided to introduce unique player faces, new leagues, a new graphics engine, better-looking kits, and a power bar for shooting. It was the first game featuring online play!

FIFA 2002: World Cup Power Bars

FIFA 2002 presented minor changes, like precise shooting and passing power bars or dribbling modifications. Players could choose from 28 leagues and over 80 national teams, but this was the last FIFA title featuring a Japanese club. Fun fact – it initiated the card reward system licensed by Panini!

FIFA 2003: Club Championship Mode

And it’s finally time for some crucial changes! The 2003 game is all about a faithful atmosphere. The audience received better reactions, the soundtrack became customizable, and the stadiums were detailed. The game introduced better ball physics, Freestyle Control, realistic animations, and TV-like break repeats enriched with detailed analysis of the most memorable moments. It all looked great in the new Club Championship Mode, representing the real-life Champions League.

FIFA 2004: Introduction of Off-the-Ball

Want to know what happened to career mode? This game was the first to introduce the manager’s career! The title encourages to show off management skills and lead the team through all stages of its development. It also offers a unique Off the Ball mode where players can control two soccer stars simultaneously. There are also changes to the overall atmosphere, like better AI, precise animations, and kits taking damage after a brutal match.

FIFA 05: Total Club Championship

To beat Pro Evolution Soccer 3, EA had to introduce several significant changes, like better graphics, an engaging soundtrack, and a career mode expanded to 15 seasons. There was also dynamic weather, first-touch mechanics, and the first appearance of the FIFA Shop offering various goods in exchange for points.

FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup

Slightly inspired by the Pro Evolution Soccer controls, the new FIFA became a real revolution, correcting many mistakes from previous years. The creators discarded the Off the Ball mode, expanded the multiplayer, introduced team chemistry, added soccer legends, and switched the commentator to Andy Gray. Career mode and graphics also changed, providing an in-depth experience and options for customizing the entire experience.

FIFA 07: Xbox 360 Debut

A realistic experience became crucial, delivering collision physics, better AI, greater ball control, and improved goalkeeper behavior. The audience began to react naturally, and fans could play real-life matches against other players in the unique EA Sports Interactive Leagues while following real news at the same time. After all, this was the first FIFA to offer an exclusive engine on Xbox 360!

FIFA 08: Be a Pro Mode

It’s time for some new features – Be a Pro mode! Finally, we could control one player instead of the entire team to show off our skills in a specific position. Goalkeepers have new moves, players have some real-life behavior, and the pace of the game is a bit slower – just right for those who prefer realistic solutions.

FIFA 09: Ultimate Team Emergence

Individual player statistics became important. The game introduced better collision physics, four seasons in the Be a Pro mode, and surprisingly accurate artificial intelligence algorithms. It was also the time of the vital FIFA Ultimate debut, treasured to this day. But in FIFA 09, it was only available as a paid expansion.

FIFA 10: 360-Degree Player Control

The beginning of a new decade sees the series finally stop struggling with the issues experienced in the previous ten years. It’s a time of rapid evolution with 360-degree player control, an even better Manager mode, the revolutionary Virtual Pro, customizable tactics, realistic transfers, and the introduction of an anti-cheat approach in multiplayer.

FIFA 11: Personality Pro Passing

EA finally decided to take care of its PC fans by providing better visuals using solutions from the previous installation. Manager Mode and Be a Pro became one, allowing playing as a manager, player, or both for 15 exciting seasons. We could also play as a goalkeeper!

FIFA 12: Impact Engine

A new year means a new engine – the Impact Engine, boosting collision physics and damage effects. The defense picked a tactical approach, the players got new cool animations, and dribbling became precise. And if all this wasn’t enough, UEFA Euro 2012 DLC made the game even bigger!

FIFA 13: Complete Dribbling Attacking AI

Although this game didn’t garner as many enthusiastic reviews as its 2012 version, it still delivered some noticeable modifications. So this year, we could enjoy the introduction of Attacking Intelligence, Tactical Free Kicks, Skill Games mode, and referee improvements.

FIFA 14: Pure Shot Real Ball Physics

The following year saw EA considering improving human responses. That is how we got team members enhanced intelligence, stress factor, realistic crowd, and an absolutely epic atmosphere. The ball physics was better, and multiplayer could enjoy the new EA Sports Football Club. And thanks to the new EA Sports Ignite engine for consoles, fans could admire the grass details and changing weather conditions to their hearts’ content.

FIFA 15: Emotion Intensity

Ignite Engine took great care of making the visual experience in this installation unforgettable – also on PC! The game finally started looking like a TV broadcast rather than a bunch of simple pixels. The defense focused on cooperation, and the partnership with the Premier League guaranteed new features ensuring intense sports emotions.

FIFA 16: Introduction of Women’s Teams

The most massive change in this title is the inclusion of women’s national soccer teams from Brazil, Canada, China, and more – 12 squads in total! Ultimate mode became Ultimate Team Draft, introducing a simplified team creation process. The career mode received a new feature – pre-season matches for designing better tactics. It all looks great with 25 fresh player animations!

FIFA 17: The Journey Mode

The Frostbite 3 engine (known from the Battlefield game series) began a new era in FIFA history, as the game runs on it to this day. FUT mode received weekly FUT Champions, but this was still not the most crucial change in this title. It was The Journey mode, featuring young Alex Hunter climbing the ladder of an epic Premier League career. Incredibly fresh idea!

FIFA 18: World Cup Update

The new game introduces Real Players Motion technology developed with the help of Cristiano Ronaldo himself – now players move exactly as in real life. The Journey mode received another chapter, and the career mode included fierce negotiations involving clever artificial intelligence.

FIFA 19: UEFA Champions League License

The Journey mode finally had its final chapter – The Journey: Champions. We also received mechanics improvements like Dynamic Tactics and Active Touch System. But the most exciting change was EA obtaining the Champions League and Europa League license. Historic breakthrough!

FIFA 20: VOLTA Football

In response to fan requests, EA finally introduced Volta mode – street soccer competitions available in 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5. Or in story mode! Career mode received immersive post-match interviews, press conferences, and a better focus on maintaining proper team morale – the job became challenging!

FIFA 21: Enhanced AI and Player Movement

By introducing two new AI systems, FIFA considerably improved player movement. So from now on, Positioning Personality is responsible for leaving players in specific positions, and Creative Runs influence the attack. Volta mode received a story campaign continuation, and Volta Squads debuted for playing with friends.

FIFA 22: HyperMotion Technology

While many thought FIFA couldn’t look more realistic, it did. Thanks to HyperMotion Technology, the title introduced over 4,000 new animations, improved player artificial intelligence, and greater ball control. Everything just got intense – including creating your club from scratch.

FIFA 23: WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2023

The last title developed under the EA and FIFA partnership brought the game cover with a female Chelsea FC player – Sam Kerr. We could play the FIFA Women’s Cup 2023! But that’s not all, as this installation also included FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, career mode as one of 350 famous managers, crossplay, and FUT Moments. Thanks to HyperMontion 2, the grass became lush green, and machine learning skyrocketed the soccer experience to a new level of realistic fun.

EA Sports FC 2024

This new chapter in the history of the FIFA franchise means a realistic pace, hybrid squads, and engaging cutscenes. FUT experienced quite a massive change – Ultimate Team Evolution for improving chosen players regardless of their achievements.

What about animations? It’s a fantastic masterpiece by HyperMotion V with volumetric data from over 180 matches to make them look even better than on TV.

FIFA World Cup Series

In addition to the main games in the series, EA made sure players could experience memorable sports emotions in seven extra FIFA World Cup editions. Games in this category offered championships in France, South Korea, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, and Qatar.

FIFA Street: A Unique Take on Soccer

Before Volta Mode became a thing, there was a spin-off containing four separate games – FIFA Street. It represents a more casual approach to matches, focusing on completing various tricks and visiting faraway corners of the world.

FIFA Mobile: Soccer for Everyone, Everywhere

It is another spin-off released on iOS and Android in 2016. As you can guess, the mechanics are less complicated but equal in terms of addictive gameplay modes and satisfying visuals. The title offers classic features like manager mode, competition with other players, and VS Attack.

Let’s accept that our beloved FIFA is changing its name to EA Sports FC – probably forever. After Electronic Arts and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association split, the former secures existing licenses to develop familiar game mechanics in the upcoming years. And let us tell you, the future looks interesting! Gianni Infantino from FIFA has already announced a new game under the classic FIFA name, which will be released annually.

Pro Evolution Soccer returns as eFootball with no significant successes on the horizon. And there is EA Sports, which finally has a chance to beat all the competition using its experience and market knowledge. Whatever happens, someone will return from this battle with a shield or on it.

GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

FIFA 18 Confirmed, Will Feature The Journey Season 2

FIFA 18's Journey mode to include new characters and storylines.

By Oscar Dayus on February 1, 2017 at 5:37AM PST

Publisher EA has confirmed the existence of FIFA 18. The company has said in an investors' earnings call that the series' latest iteration will bring with it Season 2 of the story-driven mode The Journey.

"FIFA 18 will build on the foundation we created with story mode this year, bringing players back to The Journey with Season 2, featuring new characters and new storylines," said EA CEO Andrew Wilson (via Seeking Alpha ).

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Now Playing: GS News Update: FIFA 18 Confirmed, Will Feature The Journey Season 2

"Our development team in Vancouver is delivering deeply innovative new experiences across this year's game, including an Ultimate Team, and creating the most emotionally immersive and connected FIFA we have ever produced."

Wilson noted that "more than 10 million fans have played The Journey, and Ultimate Team players are up nearly 10 percent year-over-year."

The Journey was a story-driven adventure introduced in FIFA 17 that sees you follow a young footballer called Alex Hunter. It featured dedicated characters, cutscenes, and appearances from real-life players and managers.

We thought Season 1 of The Journey succeeded in "attaching an added emotional weight to your actions on the pitch." To find out more, read our full FIFA 17 review .

Elsewhere in the earnings call, EA confirmed it is not making Skate 4 right now , but the company did reveal that Star Wars Battlefront 2 will have a single player campaign and content from multiple eras . For all the news from the call, check out our roundup here .

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email [email protected]

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• The year in review
• Milestones 2016
• Milestones 2017
• Milestones 2018
• Milestones 2019
• Milestones 2020
• Milestones 2021
• The Football Landscape
• Goal 1: Modernise the regulatory framework
• Goal 2: Grow revenues for reinvestment
• Goal 3: Make FIFA more efficient
• Goal 4: Keep our competitions iconic
• Goal 5: Deliver sustainable tournaments
• Goal 6: Increase global competitiveness
• Goal 7: Maximise our development impact
• Goal 8: Push women’s football
• Goal 9: Harness technology in football
• Goal 10: Protect positive values in football
• Goal 11: Make football work for society

Mile­stones 2020

Fifa talent development programme launched.

The groundbreaking programme offers member associations world-class expert analysis to help optimise their technical structures and, ultimately, bridge the gap at the top of the game. By October, over 200 member associations across all confederations had signed up, setting a new benchmark for FIFA initiatives in this area.

FIFA and WHO team up to combat coronavirus

FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO) joined forces on a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers, calling on people around the globe to follow five key steps to limit the spread of the disease. Thirty-eight players were involved in the campaign, which was produced in 16 languages.

First recommendations of COVID‑19 Working Group ­

The FIFA-Confederations Working Group, established to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, made recommendations on the men’s and women’s international calendars, FIFA competitions, regulatory matters and the creation of a FIFA COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Promoting five ways to #BeActive and stay #HealthyatHome ­

FIFA teamed up with both the United Nations (UN) and WHO for the #BeActive campaign to encourage people to be #HealthyAtHome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Club rivals featured in a promotional video for the campaign.

#SafeHome campaign launched

After spikes in reports of domestic violence with stay-at-home measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, FIFA, the European Commission, and WHO shared the #SafeHome initiative to support women and children at greater risk of experiencing abuse at home.

FIFA Council approves FIFA COVID‑19 Relief Plan ­

The FIFA Council unanimously agreed to make a total of USD 1.5 billion available to the football community to combat the financial impact of the global health crisis on the sport. The three-stage plan was designed by the FIFA administration in close consultation with the confederations.

Co-hosts selected for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 ­

Australia and New Zealand were selected as FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 co-hosts after a vote by the FIFA Council. It will be the first edition to feature 32 teams as the tournament expands its global reach, as well as the first to be hosted across two confederations (AFC and OFC).

FIFA virtual summits

Over a four-week period, 29 different virtual meetings were held with the presidents of FIFA’s member associations, replacing the annual FIFA Executive Football Summits. The sessions included over 97% of the 211 members and were primarily focused on the implementation of the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan.

FIFA Congress held online

The 70th FIFA Congress, originally scheduled for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was held virtually for the first time. FIFA President Gianni Infantino sent out a message of encouragement to all 211 FIFA member associations during a meeting convened by videoconference.

Protecting football against crime ­

FIFA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, strengthening their joint cooperation to address threats posed by crime to sport.

Women’s Football Administrator Handbook published

Published as part of a drive to enhance the professionalisation of the women’s game, the Women’s Football Administrator Handbook is a guide to strategies, practices and procedures that can reinforce the objectives of growing women’s football and fostering gender equality.

International Match Protocol approved

FIFA’s Return to Football – International Match Protocol was approved by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, providing safeguards for the health and safety of players and delegates while facilitating a return to play amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Third FIFA Compliance Summit

Former US Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch was among a stellar line-up of keynote speakers at the third staging of the FIFA Compliance Summit. Almost 400 delegates participated in the week-long summit, which also saw the publication of the first FIFA Compliance Handbook.

VAR “light” concept presented

A “light” version of video assistant referee (VAR) systems – designed to make the technology more accessible and affordable to a wider cross-section of the football family – was presented to The IFAB.

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Mile­stones 2019, mile­stones 2021.

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Jago: I'm proud to be the Futsal AFCON's first English coach

Ryan Jago discusses his journey from school teacher to Namibia’s futsal coach and their target for the upcoming African finals.

Ryan Jago sensationally led newcomers Namibia to the Futsal AFCON

He now wants to get them to a first FIFA Futsal World Cup

They face Egypt, Libya and Mauritania in Group B

'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.' Those were the oft-quoted words of beloved 1990s film character Forrest Gump. Ryan Jago may have never been a shrimp boat captain or received the Medal of Honour for bravery, but he can attest to the beautiful uncertainty of life.

Just eight years ago, Jago was a self-employed sports coach who went into local schools and taught toddlers football, until one visit to the leisure centre changed all of that.

"I was approached by the sports-centre manager of a venue I was hiring, asking if I'd like to play futsal," Jago recalled to FIFA . "I was intrigued as to what futsal was, but as soon as I played I could see it was fast-paced and how the game would enhance footballers.

"I instantly fell in love with the sport and immediately took my Level 1 coaching course. I wanted to introduce some of my players to futsal and became passionate about it as a game in its own right, and really pushed to gain as many experiences as I could."

Jago was soon taking his Level 2 and then UEFA B courses, while adding vital coaching experience through his local futsal side Kent United. After a year of shadowing the head coach there and earning his stripes, the 36-year-old was thrust into the top job following relegation.

"I stayed for a season and it was great as I got to change the mistakes that were in place," Jago said. "The training was unopposed which made trying to implement what was taught daunting, so I changed that and defensively strengthened the team. We scored 116 goals and won our final seven games.

"We then won the national plate final at St. George's Park, which was broadcast live on BT Sport . I was able to take my under-nine academy team, as well as my son, which was an unbelievable experience and it made me hungry to achieve bigger and better things."

Changes at the club led to him departing soon after that success, however, and heading down a new route. He travelled to Namibia to volunteer at an orphanage and, much like futsal, quickly fell in love with the country before returning on holiday with his wife.

To his surprise, Jago found a country rich in its love of futsal and boasting an incredibly sophisticated league system. He contacted the FA and began to build bridges with those in power, eventually resulting in an offer to become Namibia's first-ever futsal coach earlier this year.

"It was surreal," Jago said. "My goal was always to coach internationally, so when the opportunity was presented to me I took it with both hands. I'm grateful that my work as a coach was appreciated. To be considered as a coach they felt can come in and get them to the AFCON left me feeling immensely proud.

"Press conferences, TV and radio interviews and acting as a psychologist to the players has been hard work but an exceptional experience. It's something I want to hold on to and gain lots more experiences with Namibia. I also want to educate coaches here to ensure the foundations are strong and players can continue to be developed."

His first task was to navigate a two-legged affair with Tanzania for a place at the Futsal AFCON. A 5-2 home defeat dampened optimism, but Jago's charges bounced back in Dar es Salaam, winning a pulsating game 6-3 and advancing to the finals on away goals.

Their rewards for such a turnaround is a place in Group B alongside three-time winners Egypt, fellow debutants Mauritania and Libya. The top three sides at the tournament will head to the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™, and Jago is hell-bent on taking part.

"It was an unbelievable experience [to qualify], and to overcome a three-goal deficit made it even more special," said Jago. "Our morale was down but we dug deep.

"The teams we're going to face are incredible. Egypt are one of the highest-ranked teams in the world, while Libya play some great futsal. Mauritania are less known as there is less footage of them, but I expect they'll also be a top side.

"We will enjoy and cherish these experience and, regardless of results, learn and develop. Our ambition is to make it out of the group and push for a top-three finish to secure a World Cup place."

What channel is Columbus Crew's CONCACAF match on? Here's how to watch Crew-Tigres

The Crew have the chance to advance to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals for the first time in club history, the only team standing in the way is Tigres.

Last Tuesday, Columbus faced its Liga MX opponents in the first leg of the quarterfinal series and tied 1-1. With thar match taking place at Lower.com Field, Tigres have the tie-break advantage of an away goal.

Going on the road for the second leg, the Crew have to score at least one goal to avoid elimination. If the match ends tied 1-1 once again, the series will go into overtime with a possibility of penalty kicks if it remains tied after two periods of extra playing time.

If Columbus is able to secure a draw in which both teams score more than one goal, the Crew will win the series.

After receiving two yellow cards in the first game against Tigres, midfielder Aidan Morris is ineligible for this match , but defender Rudy Camacho and forward Alex Matan, who have been sidelined with injuries, made the trip to Mexico. There is a chance that either or both players are available today, though their status have yet to be confirmed.

Here's what else to know before the Crew take on Tigres in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals:

What time does Columbus Crew play Tigres?

Kickoff is set for 8:45 p.m. at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, Mexico.

What channel is Columbus Crew vs. Tigres on?

The match will be on FS1. Streaming is available via the Fox Sports app. The Spanish broadcast will be on ViX.

How can I to listen to Columbus Crew vs. Tigres on the radio?

The broadcast of the match will be available on 105.7 FM. Chris Doran will be on the radio call. The Spanish radio broadcast will be available via 102.5 FM La Grande.

What is CONCACAF Champions Cup?

Champions Cup is an annual competition run by CONCACAF, the regional governing body in soccer for North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The tournament includes 27 teams from 10 countries.

Each round, up until the final, will include two legs (two games) and the winner will be determined by the aggregate score (the combined number of goals scored by the two teams).

The final will consist of one match, with the winner qualifying for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

How have Columbus Crew performed in past CONCACAF Champions Cups?

The Crew have appeared in five past iterations of Champions Cup, the most recent being in 2021, when they made it to the quarterfinals.

Each time the Crew have played in this competition, they have reached the quarterfinals, but never any further.

How did Columbus Crew make it to the quarterfinals?

After receiving a bye into the Round of 16 due to being MLS Cup champions, the Crew started their CONCACAF Champions Cup journey against Houston Dynamo.

With the first leg taking place on the road March 6, Columbus took a 1-0 aggerate goal advantage when  forward Alex Matan scored a last-second goal toward the end of the match . Matan has been sidelined with a thigh injury since that game.

The Crew returned to Lower.com Field on March 12 for the second leg and took an early 1-0 lead over Houston in their second leg match off a Hernandez goal. Holding onto the lead for most of the match, Columbus would allow the Dynamo to score a penalty kick goal to  tie the match 1-1 , but still advanced to the quarterfinals with a 2-1 aggerate score.

How did Tigres make it to the quarterfinals?

Tigres started the competition in the Round of 32 against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Tigres won the first 3-0 and the overall series 4-1.

In the Round of 16, Tigres took on Orlando SC. After tying the first leg on the road 0-0, Tigres defeated Orlando 4-2 at home to advance.

Since Tigres had the better goal differential against Orlando compared to Crew's against Houston, Tigres was awarded home-field advantage in the second leg.

Who is Tigres?

Tigres is one of the teams participating in the CONCACAF Champions Cup from the Mexican-based Liga MX. In Columbus, Tigres is also known for being the team former Crew star Lucas Zelarayan played with before joining the MLS club.

With current scoring threats Juan Brunetta and Andre-Pierre Gignac, among others, Tigres is 7-3-3 and ranked fourth in Liga MX standings.

The club is based out of the Monterrey metropolitan area. Throughout its history, Tigres has won eight Liga MX championships and in 2020, won the CONCACAF Champions League.

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