FIFA 13: First Official Screenshots & 5 Gameplay Changes

Electronic Arts have unveiled the first official screenshots for the much-anticipated FIFA 13 and have also revealed the five game-changing innovations that EA Sports promise will bring "revolutionary changes" to the world's most popular football franchise. FIFA 13 will boost the most sophisticated artificial intelligence the franchise has ever known with the All-new "Attacking Intelligence". This will allow players to be much more in control over how their teams attack, allowing gamers to look for space, work harder in possession to break down much more astute defences, and be forced to think several moves ahead to break through on goal. Players will now have the intelligence to run off the ball, creating much more smarter runs and open up space for through balls to be played into. EA Sports also claim that FIFA 13 will be upgraded "with the most comprehensive and intuitive dribbling system ever developed". Titled "Complete Dribbling", the upgrade has been modelled on Barcelona's Lionel Messi and will allow players to use more precise dribble touches with true 360° mobility to create more dangerous attacks. "FIFA 13 1st Touch Control" will eliminate near-perfect touch for every player in the team (sorry Danny Simpson, you are no longer as good as Antonio Valencia in your first touch) and will bring more realistic uncertainty and variety in the gameplay. Central defenders will be more likely to over-run the ball when they intercept a bass and factors like "trajectory of the ball, and velocity of the pass now impact a player€™s first touch" will make retaining possession much harder than before. The upgraded second gen version of the "Player Impact Engine" will further expand the physical play of football, leading to more realistic collisions off-the-ball and in 50/50 battles between players. Physical defenders will push and pull in jockeying for position and the pressure will fore opponents into poor touches and decisions before the ball arrives. FIFA 13 Tactical Free Kicks provides the tools for players to create and be in more control over dangerous free-kicks, dummy runs, three players standing over a ball, etc. Similarly defenders will have the ability to be more in control of defending, by being able to add or take players out of the wall, creep the wall forward, or sending a "bullet man" to intercept the pass or shot. David Rutter, the Executive Producer for FIFA 13 said about the innovations;

"We are perfecting the best sports game in the world with innovations that capture all the drama and unpredictability of real-world football. These are game-changing innovations that will revolutionize our artificial intelligence, dribbling, ball control and collisions to create a true battle for possession across the entire pitch, and deliver freedom and creativity in attack."

Additionally EA have announced that FIFA 13 will also feature:

Improved Career Mode with major changes developed in response to requests from the most passionate fans of the franchise New features to enhance the massive EA SPORTS FIFA online offering, including improvements to the wildly popular Head-To-Head Seasons mode Multiple new features and benefits to EA SPORTS Football Club, the live service that is the heartbeat of FIFA Complete authenticity with more than 500 officially licensed clubs.

Further additional new modes (we still have our fingers crossed for "Be The Ref" mode) and features will be announced in the months ahead. Check out the rest of the new screenshots in the gallery below. FIFA 13 is likely to be released in October and they have included a little taste of what the final artwork "might" look like in their latest press release;