Cross-platform play is finally arriving in FIFA 22 "in the near future" for players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and Google Stadia – but it'll just be a test for now.
The feature, which allows players to play together online regardless of platform, will only be introduced in a testing stage, however, and will only available for Online Seasons and Online Friendlies. EA hasn't said when the test will begin, or how long it might last for.
It's unclear if other cross-play modes or platforms will be added, as EA said in a blog post that feedback from the test "will help inform how cross-play could be further implemented in future titles", not saying anything about adding more to FIFA 22.
It also limited the feature to current-gen hardware and these two modes "with the aim of reducing the chance for introducing new issues into the game."
A cross-play menu will appear in FIFA 22 when testing begins, which allows players to add friends on other platforms and even turn the feature off altogether.
Cross-play won't affect the actual gameplay or matchmaking, EA said, as all it really means is that the pool of potential opponents will just be bigger than it was previously.
FIFA is one of the biggest gaming franchises in the world, and its continuing lack of cross-play (while rivals like Fortnite and Call of Duty wholeheartedly adopt it) has been a huge source of frustration for fans. This is a step towards remedying that issue.
FIFA 22 headlines this month's PlayStation Plus games just in time for its Team of the Season players arriving in Ultimate Team.
In our 7/10 review, IGN said: "Microtransactions still loom large, but small iterative changes and the horsepower of new-gen consoles combine to make FIFA 22 feel like a worthwhile upgrade without needing anything revolutionary or terribly exciting from EA’s side."
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.