๐ข The Grounds Pros
While many players have compared The Grounds to previous attempts like Volta, NickRTFM sees the mode as a potential turning point for the franchise, especially for players who have grown tired of the traditional Ultimate Team cycle.
"I'm more excited to play The Grounds on the first day of this game being released than I am for Ultimate Team."
According to Nick, The Grounds has potential because it connects different experiences into one progression system. Modes like Rush, 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, mini-games, and Clubs tournaments all contribute to improving your Virtual Pro, giving players more reasons to explore different ways to play.
One of the features he highlighted the most was Ranked Rush, which could help solve one of Rush's biggest problems: inconsistent teammates and players who are not focused on competition.
Nick also praised the social direction of The Grounds, comparing it to experiences like NBA 2K's The Park, where players can meet others, compete casually, and create memorable moments outside traditional matches.
๐ด Why Nick Is Losing Interest in Ultimate Team
A big part of NickRTFM's excitement for The Grounds comes from his growing frustration with the current direction of Ultimate Team. For him, FC 27's new social hub represents something different after years of feeling that FUT has become repetitive.
"I don't want to play Ultimate Team anymore, bro. I don't care about Ultimate Team anymore. I just don't like what they're doing with Ultimate Team."
Nick explained that the main reasons he originally loved Ultimate Team โ the transfer market, unique player identities, licenses, and rewarding progression โ have lost much of their appeal over time.
"The things that I fell in love with in this game: the transfer market, the players, the licenses... those are the things that made me love FIFA. And I don't feel like we have those anymore."
He also criticized the current balance between Evolutions, rewards, and competitive modes, arguing that some systems have reduced the motivation to grind traditional Ultimate Team content.
"The rewards are not worth it. The gameplay is not fun. The transfer market is horrible. There's just not enough there anymore."
Because of that, Nick believes EA's focus on a more social and customizable experience makes sense. In his opinion, The Grounds could better match the direction the franchise has taken, rather than continuing to rely only on Ultimate Team.
"This makes a lot more sense for me going forward. Something like this where you combine all these things and add progression with Pro Clubs โ this is the direction I think EA should go."
๐ Excitement but cautious
Despite his enthusiasm, Nick believes EA still needs to prove that The Grounds can maintain a long-term player base. He compared the situation to Volta, warning that the mode could lose momentum if it lacks meaningful rewards, progression, and reasons to return throughout the year.
"This might die in a week. This might die in a month. But if it is fun for a week or fun for a month, that's already something."
One feature Nick believes could have taken The Grounds to another level is proximity voice chat, which would make the world feel more social and closer to experiences like NBA 2K's Park.
"The home run would have been proximity chat in the whole place."
Overall, Nick believes The Grounds represents a more logical direction for EA Sports FC's future, especially after years of criticism surrounding Ultimate Team's gameplay, rewards, and progression systems.
While some fans remain skeptical and see it as another version of Volta, others believe FC 27 needs a fresh approach โ and The Grounds could be the experiment that gives the franchise a new identity.