FIFA 18 concept footage shows Paul Pogba as the cover star

What’s the story?

Football fans around the world are eagerly waiting for the month of September as it brings with it the release of what is probably the most awaited game in the world. EA’s latest instalment of the FIFA series, FIFA 18 is scheduled to be released in the last week of September and fans of the franchise can hardly contain their excitement.

A Twitter handle going by the name “@JamescDZN” posted a video on his YouTube page showing “leaked” footage of the FIFA 18 game menu which features Manchester United superstar and the most expensive player in the world, Paul Pogba.

In case you didn’t know...

The cover star for the current version, FIFA 17, was Marco Reus who was selected after he won an online poll. FIFA’s cover stars have changed throughout the years with the likes of Ronaldinho, Kaka, Lionel Messi and others making it to the cover in the past decade.

FIFA 18 is unlikely to feature two of the best players in world football, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, on the cover as they are under contract with FIFA’s direct rivals Pro Evolution Soccer.

The heart of the matter

The “leaked” video shows Pogba as the star on the main menu, an honour which is currently reserved for German winger Reus. The menu also has a darker, sleeker and more modern feel to it. The game also features the second instalment of the “Journey” mode which is termed as “Journey: Season 2.”

Another notable addition to the game is the street mode, a concept derived from EA’s freestyle game, FIFA Street.

What’s next?

FIFA 18 is scheduled to release on the 26^th of September in the United Kingdom and will be made available to gamers worldwide within a few days of the UK release. Also, in a move that is likely to appease Indian fans, the ISL is also going to be a part of the game after finishing above the Chinese Super League in an online survey.

Author’s Take

The game looks an attractive proposition and if it is anywhere close to what is shown in the video, gamers are going to have the time of their lives once they get their hands on FIFA 18 in September.

The inclusion of Pogba as the cover figure is not surprising considering the fact that he is the world’s most expensive player. While he has not lived up to expectations in his first season at Manchester United, expect him to be at his best come the next season.