FIFA 19 arrived on 28 September 2018 with the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup in the box. The licenses had expired with Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer, and EA Vancouver built the tournaments into every mode rather than bolting them on as a separate attraction. It is the 26th installment in the FIFA series.
Derek Rae and Lee Dixon Take the Mic
Derek Rae and Lee Dixon call the UEFA competitions. Martin Tyler and Alan Smith return for regular league play, Geoff Shreeves is back as touchline reporter, and Alan McInally provides league updates. New graphics and stadiums came with the package.
The anthem got the strangest treatment of all. Hans Zimmer and Vince Staples recorded a new remix of the UEFA Champions League theme, and it plays over the reveal trailer EA Sports posted on 9 June 2018. It works better than it has any right to.
Active Touch, Timed Finishing, and 50/50 Battles
The mechanical changes are real but uneven. The Active Touch System overhauls player control. Timed finishing lets you press the kick button a second time to set the exact moment the ball is struck. Dynamic Tactics lets you configure strategies and switch them mid-match. 50/50 battles govern loose balls.
Timed finishing is the one that changes how the game feels. It rewards attention and punishes button-mashing.
Ronaldo Leaves the Cover
Cristiano Ronaldo returned as global cover star for a second straight year, appearing with Neymar on the Champions and Ultimate Edition packs. Then came the transfer to Juventus, and EA released new cover art.
In February 2019, EA replaced Ronaldo on the cover with Neymar, Kevin De Bruyne and Paulo Dybala. The source material ties that change to a 2009 Las Vegas rape allegation a woman made in October 2018, followed by a Clark County, Nevada lawsuit over a $375,000 settlement and nondisclosure agreement. The source does not say how that case ended. It is worth noting only because it explains the cover change, not because the game itself turns on it.
Alex Hunter’s Last Ride
The Journey closes here. Alex Hunter, first seen in FIFA 17, returns for a third and final installment, joined by half-sister Kim and Danny Williams. The story opens on a video of Hunter’s grandfather Jim scoring his 100th career goal for his club in a First Division match at Coventry City, then flashes back to a pre-season tournament in Japan.
Alex faces Juventus, where Ronaldo plays alongside a mysterious defender revealed as Danny’s brother Terry Williams. Kim trains with the United States women’s national team and partners with Alex Morgan. Agent Beatriz Villanova lands Alex a five-year Real Madrid contract, which he accepts. He has yet to make his Champions League debut and leans on mentors to boost his stats.
55 National Teams and a Licensed Serie A
FIFA 19 ships with 55 national teams and 35 licensed leagues, and it finally carries a properly licensed Serie A after two years of being called “Calcio A.” Promotion and relegation between the Champions League and Europa League is supported.
Where the Value Sits
The Champions League license is the headline, but timed finishing is the thing that lasts. Licensing sells a copy; a mechanic that punishes careless input is what keeps the disc in the tray through winter. The Journey’s finale is competent fan service rather than essential drama.
FIFA 19 is not a reinvention. It is a strong, well-stocked entry whose best idea is buried in the controls rather than printed on the box. A 7.6 from 10 outlets on the IGDB critic aggregate reads about right: the package is deep, the football is good, and nothing here rewrites what the series already was.
Key facts
– Release date: 28 September 2018
– Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One
– Developer: EA Vancouver; Publisher: Electronic Arts
– 26th installment in the FIFA series
– 55 national teams, 35 licensed leagues
– Critic aggregate: 7.6/10 (IGDB, 10 outlets)
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