EA cancels FIFA 21 demo to focus on delivering "the best full game experience"

FIFA 21 preview
(Image credit: EA Sports)

EA has announced that FIFA 21 isn't getting a demo ahead of its October 9 release date. The publisher says it's bucking tradition this year to focus on "delivering the best full game experience for current and next-gen consoles."

EA Play subscribers will still be able to access the 10-hour trial starting October 1, and progress will carry over to the full game when it launches on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch. EA has yet to reveal when FIFA 21 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X, so it's possible there's still some work to be done optimizing the game for next-gen hardware.

We spent some time with EA's cross-gen sports title for our recent FIFA 21 preview, and basically, it's FIFA through and through. Whether that's a good thing or not will depend entirely on how much you enjoyed last year's FIFA release.

"FIFA 21 is a very minor upgrade over FIFA 20," our preview of the beta reads. "This won't come as a surprise to many, although it may disappoint. The Frostbite engine is still the foundation for the annual best-selling football game and as a result, unless you played last year's instalment to death, you're not going to instantly spot any big changes. In fact, the FIFA 21 beta feels like the smallest development jump year-on-year that the series has seen in a long time, which is saying something when it's a series known for seemingly incremental changes as it is."

For a more comprehensive breakdown of everything new, don't miss our guide to FIFA 21 features.

Jordan Gerblick

After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer, I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Latest in Sports
FC 25
FC 25 Dreamchasers tracker and full UEFA promo guide
FC 25
FC 25 Season 6 Ladder Players list and how to unlock them all
WWE 2K25
WWE 2K25 locker codes guide to free MyFaction cards
Skate 4
The Skate reboot isn't even out yet, but it already has an EA specialty: microtransactions
Umaga is a key player in The Bloodline Showcase
How to unlock all wrestlers in WWE 2K25
FC 25
FC 25 FUT Birthday guide and full cards list
Latest in News
Dune Awakening
Dune Awakening launches for $50 without a stay in early access, and while the survival MMO "will not have a monthly subscription" it will have "optional" paid DLC
Linda Cardellini as Laura Barton in Hawkeye
Linda Cardellini cast as Jason's mom, the original Friday the 13th killer, for Crystal Lake prequel series
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 studio CD Projekt Red won't make survival games just because they're popular, but Netflix's Edgerunners anime is fueling dreams bigger than RPGs
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing female protagonist Naoe
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe actor was terrified to perform until her first mocap scene earned "a standing ovation" on set: "Maybe I can do this mocap thing"
Daredevil: Born Again
Marvel may have just sneakily confirmed one of the biggest Daredevil: Born Again fan theories
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Yasuke actor says that Naoe could beat his samurai in a fight: “Especially with that big a** helmet of mine”