Gab Hernandez 
Many fans believe UFL has the potential to be a “FIFA killer” or an “EA FC killer” and much of that sentiment is thanks to the game’s “fair-to-play” model, but is its free-to-play model legit?
EA Sports’ FIFA franchise, now known as EA FC, had millions of fans but that didn’t make it immune to criticism. One of the foremost complaints about FIFA came from its allegedly predatory microtransactions. In September 2020, EA came under fire for marketing FIFA points in a children’s magazine.
Although EA pulled the advertisements shortly thereafter, the incident made gamers more wary of the franchise until its unexpected cancelation. While fans miss FIFA’s gameplay and extensive roster, it’s arguable whether they missed how expensive it could get. Though there have been reports and rumors about 2K Games creating its own FIFA replacement, this is yet to be officially confirmed.
UFL, a football game backed by legendary player Cristiano Ronaldo, heavily marketed itself with the “fair-to-play” slogan. But does that mean UFL is free-to-play or is it something else?
Is UFL free to play?
UFL will be free to play upon release on all platforms. Strikerz Inc highlighted the game’s lack of mandatory payments or fees.
“The game is designed to be a fair-to-play experience that implies a skill-first approach and zero pay-to-win options,” stated Strikerz Inc to the press.
None of the mainline FIFA games ever went free-to-play, despite the presence of microtransactions. UFL’s “fair-to-play” approach is said to have played a significant role in convincing Ronaldo to invest in UFL.
“The ‘fair to play’ aspect stuck out to him with the game being free to play. We can ensure that this will always remain the case,” said Strikerz Inc CEO Eugene Nashilov.
How is UFL monetized?
The details of UFL’s monetization system are uncertain, but it will seemingly be free-to-play with paid microtransactions.
The exact nature of UFL’s microtransactions has not been revealed. The expectation is that its microtransactions will hone in on cosmetics for in-game players and teams. The UFL has partnered with FIFPRO, which represents over 65,000 professional footballers, so there’s no shortage of options. Notable ambassadors for the UFL include Oleksandr Zinchenko, Roberto Firmino, and Cristiano Ronaldo among many others.
Many free-to-play games with microtransactions like League of Legends, avoid “play-to-win” issues by not locking mechanical benefits or game-changing features behind a paywall. Still, fans won’t know for sure how UFL will handle its microtransactions until the game’s release later in 2024.
In the meantime, fans will have to settle for EA Sports FC for their football fix.
