I've actually mostly enjoyed playing online; no one uses a microphone so I have not encountered anywhere close to the quantity of abuse I confronted in Madden NFL 21. I did receive some very salty messages, but generally I believe FIFA 21's matchmaking works nicely; I feel like I am playing against players at a roughly similar skill level, which is contributing to some competitive matches with fun ebbs-and-flows; occasionally I get roundly beaten by Madden 21 coins a much better player, other times I win professionally as well. Fair.
As such, unlike Madden NFL 21, I believe I'm going to continue playing throughout the rest of the season. I'm well on my way to qualifying for a Weekend League now, and while I would hope to get thumped by that sort of contest, I have set myself a goal to keep advancing my squad and see how I match up in that sort environment; I'll certainly write about my first Weekend League once I make it. If I could get only one win, I'd be very happy.
I really do think FIFA 21's Ultimate Team puts a bit too much focus on your own squad; a much better player using an equal squad will beat you, however, a better player with a better squad will absolutely demolish you. With some cards above 90 bringing prices in the millions, it doesn't necessarily feel entirely fair. But constructing a competitive squad is addictive, and I'm not sure it'd have the exact same appeal if you could easily add, state, Cristiano Ronaldo to your roster.
I think exactly what the sport needs is a much better suite of modes, particularly for offline play. Squad Battles was useful for me when I was learning how to play the match, but I compare it to buy Madden nfl 21 coins something such as Conquest and Showdown in MLB The Show 21, and I'm much more compelled to really use my gamers offline in these manners than I'm to do anything in FIFA 21. There's plenty EA Sports can do here, but it feels as though it is placed all of its attention on multiplayer, and abandoned solo drama to languish.
