The result is a game mode that doesn’t need to be “re-learned” after playing 11v11 – your muscle memory will still serve you well. “We’re talking the same passing system, dribbling, and pace,” says Danillo. “The idea was to let players smoothly transition into the main 11v11 gameplay, offering a more consistent and engaging experience across all modes. This was important because 11v11 is a proven formula that works. We didn’t need to reinvent the wheel; instead, we built on something that’s been perfected over more than a decade, so players can enjoy a familiar and refined experience.”

Of course, the removal of traditional positions means that some changes have been made to how the AI interacts. The development team even played real-life Rush matches to learn how to make it work:

“The AI in Rush is designed to smartly assess empty spaces and spot open opportunities, adapting to the game’s flow instead of sticking to fixed positions,” explains Breno. “It’s an adaptive system that encourages player rotation, and it works in both Kick-off and Career Mode, as well as in online matches if a human player disconnects and the AI takes over. We’ve also introduced the ‘AR Coach’, a feature aimed at guiding newcomers through the Rush experience. It helps teach players how to position themselves and navigate the pitch in this ‘positionless’ context by highlighting opportunities and suggesting actions on the pitch via augmented-reality.”

As you might expect, then, Rush is more than simply a scaled-down version of the main game. There are key rule changes in play here – for instance, red cards are replaced with blue cards, which see players “sin-binned” for a minute of real time instead of sent off for the rest of the game. Kick offs are now a sprint to retrieve a loose ball, rather than one team gaining an immediate advantage. Perhaps most excitingly, penalties are also different – instead of spot kick, one of your players gets to charge at the opposition goalkeeper in a running one-on-one.

“Playing Rush with youth players in Career mode does more than just let you scout them before promoting them to the senior team. It’s got a real impact,” says Danillo. “Winning youth tournaments directly affects their development, so the stakes are pretty high. This makes choosing to engage and play with your youth team a much more rewarding experience. You’re not just getting a better look at potential future stars; you’re actively improving your academy players. It adds a whole new layer of excitement and strategy to managing your youth squad.”

Alongside all this deep game design thought, there’s a playfulness to Rush that shines through. It’s fast, end-to-end, and filled with opportunities to pull off risky moves that might otherwise fall apart in an 11v11 game. And with that comes the ability to answer an age-old question of football fans – who’d be in your dream 5-a-side team? Breno and Danillo definitely aren’t above having thought about it themselves:

“As two Brazilians who absolutely love football, this is our time to shine with our Brazilian fanbase! Honestly, reaching alignment on this was a breeze. We’d go with Pelé, Zico, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Júlio César. With a lineup like that, who even needs a bench?”

EA Sports FC 25 launches for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on September 27 – but Ultimate Edition owners can play the game from today, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or EA Play members can access a 10-hour trial starting today.