E3 2019: FIFA 20 For Nintendo Switch Lacks "Any Of The Big New Features"

FIFA 20's announcement and the subsequent reveal of the FIFA Street-style Volta mode has got fans excited for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC game, but EA has dampened the buzz for the Nintendo Switch version of the game by saying it lacks "any of the big new features."

In an interview with Eurogamer, EA confirmed the Switch port of FIFA 20 will be a legacy edition. Explaining what this means, executive producer Aaron McHardy said, "You're gonna get a fresh new look in Switch, with kits and player lists and all of that." However, he went on to say "you're not going to be getting Volta or any of the big new features."

Not all of FIFA 20's new features have been detailed thus far, but EA has explained a number of the gameplay changes it's making--particularly with regards to passing, shooting, and set pieces--in addition to revealing Volta.

That mode "takes football back to the streets with the authentic culture, creativity, and style of the small-sided game," EA says. It appears to be an exclusively small-sided match mode, meaning you'll play with teams of between three and five, as opposed to the regulation 11.

It contains a number of sub-modes, each of which is playable with male or female avatars. Volta World allows you to "build up your squad," for example, while Volta Story will see you take on the role of one player through a scripted narrative, similar to The Journey from previous editions of FIFA. Additionally, you can "take your favorite professional teams to the streets in Volta Kick-Off" or "play through Promotion and Relegation in the online Volta League." Match variants include 3v3 Rush, 4v4, 4v4 Rush, 5v5, and Professional Futsal, where "rush" indicates a game mode that excludes goalkeepers.

The Switch port of FIFA has always been a little pared back compared to the PS4, Xbox One, and PC versions, but this is the first time EA has described the Nintendo version as a Legacy edition. The publisher has attached "Legacy edition" to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions for a number of years now to indicate the game is largely unchanged, save for cosmetic tweaks such as the new season's kits.

Our FIFA 19 Nintendo Switch review awarded the port a 5/10. We called it "a playable, competent game of football encased in a package of outdated modes and lacking the controls and features you really want."