Is EA Sports FC safe for my child?

The football gameplay in EA Sports FC is safe and appropriate for most children. The significant concern is the Ultimate Team mode, in which players spend FIFA Coins or real money on randomised card packs — a mechanic that functions similarly to gambling. Several European countries have taken action against EA over these packs, and Belgium has banned paid loot boxes entirely. For children, the risks are financial (spending real money on packs), psychological (the dopamine cycle of pack-opening), and, for online modes, exposure to abusive language in matches. Setting console-level spending limits before your child plays is the single most important step.

What is Ultimate Team and why is it a concern?

Ultimate Team (FUT) is a game mode where players build a football squad using player cards, which can be obtained by completing in-game objectives or by buying packs using FIFA Coins (earned in-game) or FC Points (purchased with real money). Packs contain randomised cards — the chance of getting a top-rated player is typically less than 1%. The mechanic is deliberately similar to gambling: anticipation, randomised reward, and the option to spend more. EA makes billions of pounds from this mode globally. We strongly recommend either blocking your child's access to FUT entirely or having an explicit conversation about the mechanics and setting a firm spending limit.

EA Sports FC (FIFA) Safety Guide for Parents

What parents need to know about EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA) — including loot boxes, Ultimate Team gambling mechanics, online chat, and spending risks.

Official age

We recommend

13+

Developer

Electronic Arts

Risks

Direct messaging

In-app purchases

Overview

EA Sports FC (previously known as FIFA) is one of the world's most popular football video games, released annually by Electronic Arts. The game is rated PEGI 3 for its main modes but contains significant risks in its online and monetisation features. The Ultimate Team (FUT) mode is a card-collecting game mode in which players buy 'packs' containing random player cards — a mechanic that gambling regulators in several countries have classified as akin to gambling. EA Sports FC is played by millions of children across the UK.

How children use it

Children primarily play EA Sports FC in one of three modes: Career Mode (offline, single-player), Online Seasons (competitive matches against other players), and Ultimate Team (building a squad using player cards). Ultimate Team is the most popular mode and the most commercially lucrative for EA, with children spending real money on card packs chasing high-rated players. Online matches involve chat features including voice and text communications.

Main risks

in app purchases gaming safety cyberbullying harmful content

Recommended privacy settings

EA Account Spending Controls

Location: myaccount.ea.com → EA Wallet

Set to: Do not save payment details; use console parental controls for spending limits

EA does not offer robust built-in spending limits. The most effective control is setting spending restrictions through the PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo console parental controls and not saving a credit card to the EA account.

Online Communication Settings

Location: Console parental controls → Communication and Multiplayer

Set to: Friends only or restricted

Text and voice chat in online matches is where most abusive interactions occur. Console-level communication restrictions are more reliable than in-game settings.

Parent actions

essential

Set monthly spending limits through PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo parental controls — do not rely on in-game settings alone

Time: 15 minutes

essential

Explain the mechanics of Ultimate Team packs to your child — they are randomised, the odds are very low for top-rated players, and they are designed to encourage repeated spending

Time: 15 minutes

recommended

Have a conversation about acceptable behaviour in online matches — abuse, racial slurs, and rage quitting are common issues

Time: 10 minutes

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