A popular game

    The time has finally arrived, football supporters have been brimming with excitement for weeks at the prospect of purchasing the latest edition of FIFA and the most recent instalment of the popular video game franchise was released on the 29th of September.

    Without question, the anticipation ahead of the latest edition of the football video game has been infectious. FIFA as a franchise is ranked in 11th place on the highest grossing video game franchises of all time, having sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Estimations from August suggest that the last edition of the game, FIFA 17 sold 11.14 million copies with over 73% of those being distributed to Europe.

    Fans are always excited at the release of the new edition to assess the changes that have been made to the game in comparison to the last version, and it is also an opportunity to play with players who have since joined new clubs or who have established themselves as first-team members of their respective squads.

    The drama of the rating system

    In addition to the new players, updated player ratings are always caused by considerable excitement as is adequately illustrated by Michy Batshuayi’s hilarious Twitter feud with FIFA. Seemingly, the rating system means as much to players as it does to football supporters.

    There’s been considerable criticism of the FIFA rating system, with some accusing FIFA of basing the ratings on status as opposed to the player’s skill. Thus, we’ve opted to see how accurate the ratings are by the bookies’ predictions for the Premier League crown.

    Do they reflect the real-life situation?

    Defending Premier League Champions flaunt some respectable numbers with regards to their ratings on the video game. FIFA have opted to reward the Blues’ attack with a score of 85, the midfield 85 and the defence 82. This is reflective of the average rating of the starting players in each position.

    In comparison to Manchester United – who is famously coached by former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho – the Blues have the statistical edge. Regarding the Red Devil’s attack, their rating is 86 which is one better than Chelsea’s total of 85. Nevertheless, their midfield rating is two fewer than Chelsea’s total and their defence is also marginally worse.

    While looking at these numbers, it is conceivable to think that FIFA believes that the Premier League Champions will outperform Manchester United this season. However, the Red Devils are currently situated in second place in the Premier League, with two more points than the Blues.

    While the league standings are clearly subject to change, as is the betting markets, the FIFA ratings aren’t in accordance with the bookmaker’s predictions either.

    Manchester City, with a score of 84 in the attack, 85 in midfield and 81 in defence are positioned as favourites to win the Premier League trophy. Coincidentally, City is the team who are currently leading the division.

    Of course, there’s considerable time for the league standings to alter, and Chelsea is certainly a conceivable destination for the league title, yet for the time being at least the FIFA ratings aren’t in accordance with the current table.

    Nevertheless, they’re experiencing greater joy with regards to strikers on the game. Sergio Aguero is the highest rated striker from the Premier League in FIFA 18, with a rating of 89. Incidentally, the Argentine is the current joint top goal scorer in England’s foremost division alongside Alvaro Morata, both players have scored six league goals.

    On this particular occasion, the ratings are compatible with the current situation, yet once again they do not align with the bookies’ predictions. Despite being ranked as the best striker in the Premier League, Sergio Aguero is listed as the fifth favourite to become the Premier League’s top scorer this season.

    While FIFA’s ratings may not always be reflective of the real scenario, there’s no doubting that the franchise has testified its status as one of the most popular and adored video games in existence. It is more than probable that the sales for FIFA 18 will rival the heights attained by the previous instalment of the game, and one of the most profitable games in the world will continue to thrive as users socialise and compete online with their favourite teams.

    Richard is an experienced tech journalist and blogger who is passionate about new and emerging technologies. He provides insightful and engaging content for Connection Cafe and is committed to staying up-to-date on the latest trends and developments.