This week the community of FIFA 21 has been reacting in disgust to what would be a possible corruption scandal generated around the FUT card system (FIFA Ultimate Team). Apparently, one or more EA Sports employees would be getting rich from the illicit trade in soccer player cards. Because of this, this situation around FIFA 21 would have an official name: «EA Gate«.
It all started this week as a simple social media rumor. Some Twitter users began to comment that certain anonymous people contacted players of FIFA 21 to offer them the player cards they want in exchange for a payment. Some negotiations asked 1,500 dollars in exchange for three icon players (at the level of Thierry Henry, Carles Puyol or Ryan Higgs) and two TOTY players (Team of the Year).
The serious thing about “EA Gate” is that due to the amount of rare cards that are offered, it would only be possible for an EA Sports employee himself to be the one who has set up these businesses around FIFA 21. To protect yourself, you would have a whole network of resellers offering the players. In addition, they themselves confirmed that they had support within the company.
How does the system work FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT)?
FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) is a successful business model that EA Sports has been implementing for several years. It is the most common game mode within the title, which invites players to assemble their own team of soccer stars to make it compete with others.
However, getting soccer players is not easy at all. Whoever wants to acquire players must invest money to open a box full of totally random player cards. Like any Panini album, the most coveted players arrive on the rarest and scarcest cards. The difference is that in FIFA the most famous athletes also have statistics that make them fearful to face in a match.
So, who wants to be successful in FIFA Ultimate Team you are bound to spend a lot of money to get the best players. The other way to acquire them is through the exchange within the title. Trading cards outside of this system is severely sanctioned by EA Sports.
EA Sports comments on the “EA Gate” corruption scandal on FIFA 21
The fact would have remained a mere rumor were it not for the fact that the EA itself confirmed that it is conducting an investigation to discover those responsible for “this unacceptable behavior«. Without calling it “corruption,” EA announced that it will “take action against any employee involved in this activity” that occurs in FIFA 21.
Recently the company shared a statement in which he gives details about the operation. It explains how the company grants special content (such as rare cards) to certain people. These items can easily be generated for three scenarios: replacing lost content to players due to technical issues, testing its performance on test servers, and gifting content to athletes, artists, or EA Sports employees who have contributed to the game.
However, any of these items is not transferable. This detail is essential, because all the negotiations clarify that once the elements are purchased, they cannot be exchanged to other players. That is, there would indeed be workers within EA Sports who take advantage of the content gift system to enrich themselves.
The company has not yet found those responsible, but ensures that it will keep the public informed of any news about “EA Gate” in FIFA 21.
Via: Polygon
Source: EA Sports
