FIFA 12: EA Sports Announce Euro 2012 Expansion Pack

EA Sports have today announced that they will celebrate the upcoming EURO 2012 tournament, which begins 8th June in Poland and Ukraine, with a special expansion pack for gamers who already own FIFA 12, rather than bringing out a stand-alone game. That - and the reduced cost of £15.99 (1,800 MS Points or 2,500 FIFA Points on PC) - should placate fans of the franchise who have previously been lumbered with poorer tournament releases with sparse game modes and distinctly rushed execution in the past. Here's the official word from the developer:

EA SPORTS UEFA EURO 2012 will recreate all the drama and excitement of the official tournament with all 53 UEFA member national teams, all eight official stadiums in the tournament, and all the pageantry and atmosphere of one of the largest and most-watched sporting events on the planet. Fans will be able to compete online for national pride and glory as their favourite European country in the UEFA EURO 2012 tournament against rival nations in the group stage, progress through the knockout rounds and ultimately compete for the chance to be crowned UEFA EURO 2012 champion. Plus, a live service will drive real-life storylines into the game from the qualifying campaign and the tournament itself, enabling fans to relive dramatic moments with challenges based on real-life matches. Challenges will enable fans to earn experience points and level up their EA SPORTS Football Club profile.

Producer Sebastian Enrique had the following to say ahead of the release:

€œThis game will tap into the passion fans have for their national teams by capturing all of the national rivalries in-game, and re-creating all the emotion of the UEFA EURO 2012 tournament. We are utilizing the best-playing FIFA videogame ever, driving live, digital content created from the biggest headlines from the tournament into the game, and offering an exclusive new mode that will challenge gamers in unique and compelling ways.€

The expansion pack will also include an all-new Expedition Mode which will enables fan to build, manage and compete with a customised team against other European nations, crafting the perfect strategy for European domination. Fans will choose their favourite European player or FIFA 12 Virtual Pro to captain their customised team, win matches to earn better players from defeated nations, and then defeat the best nations to earn the best players in a campaign quest to defeat all 53 countries and complete the journey to conquer Europe. EA Sports also released half a dozen screen-shots of the expansion pack to welcome the release news: EA Sports' UEFA Euro 2012 Expansion Pack will be available from 24th April.