FIFA 22 Beta: 10 Hands-On First Impressions

EA's new closed Beta for FIFA 22 went live at 6pm UK time on 12 August. Or, at least, it was supposed to - sadly, hundreds (if not thousands) of users found themselves locked out due to server issues. Those appear to have been fixed, and it's worth noting that this gamer never had one problem outside little glitches on menus here and there.

EA Sports made it clear those would happen. This is an unfinished test product, after all.

Invited players were allocated certain modes they could play. Luckily, and likely because this guy has ploughed countless hours into it over the years, EA handed over Career Mode and Kick Off. That was a relief, 'cause screw Ultimate Team (yours truly has never been a fan).

So, what is FIFA 22 like? Does a revamped Career Mode live up to the hype, or is this another false dawn designed to distract and play pretend about franchise evolution as FUT rakes in millions to EA's coffers? Also, what is actual on-the-pitch gameplay like moment-to-moment?

Here's everything you need to know about FIFA 22's early build. No stone is left unturned...

The very first thing you'll probably notice is that tackles are meaty.

Slides don't feel like a concrete way to pick up bookings (or, worse, reds) anymore, and the ball doesn't glue itself to each player's feet when they receive passes. Generally, there's a nice unpredictability to the overall gameplay, which is ace to see.

It's still FIFA, of course, but EA have done a nice job of separating top-tier icons like Lionel Messi from guys who ply their trade in the Championship - whilst there are skilled players in England's second tier, you'll have to make on-the-spot concessions for their lack of a killer first touch.

Players don't seem to glide across the turf any long either. Now, instead of grass appearing as carpet one could eat their dinner off of, it's a much more realistic surface that suits some footballers more than others. That could be key in making gameplay more enjoyable for some.