In Club and Ultimate Team, Rush mode will consist of 5 players. Players control 4 of these players, while the goalkeeper is controlled by the AI throughout the match. If a player disconnects during a match, the AI will take over control of that player’s character. The team captain can control the goalkeeper’s lunges or manually control the goalkeeper’s movement. To ensure fairness, the height attributes and PlayStyles of both teams’ goalkeepers are the same. In Kick-off and Career Mode Rush, players will be able to control the entire team.
Unique Pitch Design
EA SPORTS has determined the pitch dimensions for Rush mode. The pitch is 63.7 meters long and 46.6 meters wide, which is 41.5% of the area of a standard 11-a-side pitch. This smaller, wider design encourages players to utilize the width of the pitch by passing horizontally. It effectively prevents players from crowding the middle of the pitch. The penalty areas and center circle are slightly larger than those on a standard football pitch. There are two dashed lines at the one-third mark of the pitch, indicating the offside starting position. Goals are the same size as those on a standard pitch. Additionally, players can shoot as long as they are past their own defensive offside line.
Altered Kick-off
There are two football launchers on each side of the pitch. At the start of the match, one of the launchers will launch the ball at a random height and power. Players from both teams must compete for the ball to gain possession. During the match, there is no traditional positional concept for players. The goal is to encourage players to play in a more flexible and team-oriented manner. Players need to constantly observe and switch their roles during the match. When the game stops, players will return to the pitch based on their most recent position. Therefore, communication and coordination during the match are crucial.
Offside Rule
The offside rule in Rush mode in FC 25 is based on the dashed lines on either side of the pitch. These lines are located exactly at the one-third mark of the pitch. If the receiving player crosses this line when a pass is made, it will be ruled offside. Other rules regarding offside are consistent with traditional offside rules.
Blue Card
In Rush mode, there are no red cards. Instead, players who commit serious fouls or deny a clear goal-scoring opportunity will receive a blue card and be sent off for 1 minute. The timer below the blue card will stop when the game is paused and will decrease by 15 seconds each time the team concedes a goal. If the blue card timer exceeds the remaining match time, it will carry over into extra time. Players can re-enter the field during live play or set pieces after the timer ends. Each team must have at least two players on the field. Therefore, if a team receives a third blue card while two players are already off the field, they will forfeit the match. Accumulating two yellow cards will result in a blue card, and the yellow card count will reset when a blue card is issued. Goalkeepers will not receive yellow or blue cards.
Additionally, to ensure fair play in Rush, the advantage rule has been adjusted to allow blue cards to be delayed based on the outcome of the advantage play, especially in breakthrough or one-on-one situations. This will be similar to the traditional 11-a-side rule, aiming to provide a fun, fair, and fluid experience.
Simplified Set Pieces
Matches will resume quickly, maintaining a fluid pace of play, whether it’s a throw-in, corner kick, or free kick. The player closest to the ball will take throw-ins and corner kicks, while the player who committed the foul will take free kicks and penalties. During set pieces, each player’s position will be based on their last position on the field. Additionally, after a goal, players will re-position themselves based on the areas they primarily operated in during the match, such as the left or right side of the pitch.
Indirect Free Kicks
In Rush, all free kicks are indirect, meaning players cannot shoot directly but must pass to a teammate. These free kicks are taken from the regular game camera to ensure a quick and seamless flow of play.
Corner Kicks
The taker can adjust the target location of the ball using the on-ground aiming reticle. More powerful corner kicks tend to produce lower and faster trajectories, while less powerful ones may be higher and slower. Of course, a ground pass remains an option. Like indirect free kicks, corner kicks are also taken using the regular game camera.
1v1 Penalties and Penalty Shootouts
In penalty shootouts, EA SPORTS aims to capture the tension and excitement of 11v11 penalty shootouts. During regular gameplay, any player fouled inside the penalty area will be awarded a penalty, giving them the opportunity for a one-on-one duel with the goalkeeper. If the match is still tied after extra time, players from both teams will take turns in a 1v1 penalty shootout, with each player having 10 seconds to take their shot. In penalty shootouts, only the shooter and the goalkeeper are involved in the action, with other players watching from the sidelines.
Two-Man Celebrations
This feature allows players to celebrate with teammates by simply running towards them after scoring a goal. These interactions are generally short, and EA SPORTS aims to add a fun element to goal-scoring without affecting the fast-paced nature of Rush. For players who prefer solo celebrations, don’t worry, you can still showcase your style by avoiding your teammates and using your preferred celebration command. Hopefully, these celebrations will make the excitement of scoring goals even richer.
Quick Chat and Tactical Request Features
As part of the Rush experience, EA SPORTS has introduced a new quick chat feature that is available in all online lock-on player modes. This social feature is designed to foster team communication and camaraderie through simple and quick messages. Players can easily send messages like “Nice one,” “Thanks,” “Sorry,” and “Unlucky” to their teammates using the directional buttons. EA hopes it allows players to quickly express reactions and emotions during key moments in the match, whether it’s acknowledging a great assist or regretting a missed opportunity. Even players who are off the ball can send quick messages and reactions. Players can also request actions from their teammates when they are not in possession of the ball. They can send commands such as “Pass,” “Cross,” “Through ball,” or “Shoot” using the corresponding action buttons. They can also send messages like “Run,” “Short passing,” or “Pressure” using their respective buttons. AI teammates will try their best to respond to these requests. The overall goal of introducing quick chat and tactical requests is to provide players with more social options while also giving them more control over AI teammates.
Ping System
To further facilitate tactical communication in Rush, EA SPORTS has introduced a Ping system based on early feedback from internal playtests. Designed specifically for online lock-on player modes, Ping allows players without the ball to communicate their intentions to teammates via right stick input. Inspired by directional running visuals, these signals are visualized through arrows that appear from the player and fade in the intended direction of the action. For clarity, these arrows will be displayed in colors corresponding to each player’s indicator (e.g., red, blue, etc.). Players can use this system to indicate the direction they intend to run or where they would like the ball to be passed. Additionally, players can toggle the visual effects of the Ping system on or off under “Game Settings” > “Visuals”. The Ping system aims to enhance in-game strategy and teamwork by providing a direct method of communication for real-time tactical decision-making.
Rewards
EA SPORTS has not officially announced specific rewards for Rush mode in FC 25, but based on previous games and official previews, we can speculate on some possible reward types:
Rush mode rewards may include:
- Experience points: Participating in Rush mode can earn experience points, which can level up and unlock more game content and customization options.
- FC 25 Coins : Players can earn FC 25 coins by completing Rush mode matches or challenges, which can be used to purchase items, player packs, etc.
- Special items or rewards: Rush mode may offer unique items or rewards, such as special stadiums, kits, celebration animations, etc.
- Seasonal rewards: Rush mode may have seasonal rewards, giving different rewards based on a player’s performance during the season.
Pre-order rewards for Rush mode content According to the FC 25 pre-order information, pre-ordering the Ultimate Edition can get the following Rush mode related rewards:
- Earn double reward points for playing Rush mode with friends
- Get a head start in the FC Hub Season 1
- Get special rewards and content
- And all the standard edition pre-order content
