EA Sports College Football 27, released today on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, has been subjected to immediate review bombing on Steam, with the majority of player reviews overwhelmingly negative. The backlash stems from the inclusion of microtransactions in the game's single-player modes, a feature that was allegedly absent from preview copies provided to influencers.
Microtransactions in Single-Player Modes Spark Outrage
In the game's Dynasty and Road To Glory modes, players can adjust how much experience they earn from matches, allowing faster progression. However, unlike previous entries, this feature now requires spending real money on College Football Points. Players and content creators have expressed fury, with many calling the practice pay-to-win in a single-player context.
YouTuber Bordeaux, an EA partner who played the game early, posted a video criticizing the microtransactions, stating he was never informed about them. He said: 'You can’t just sneak microtransactions in, have us creators super excited to play the game, say nothing about it in Chicago, and just expect this to be cool. Expect us to be all so excited and happy about the game still.'
Developers Reportedly Livid
Anonymous sources within EA told Insider Gaming that members of the development team are equally 'livid' about the microtransactions. One source suggested that while a temporary fix might be implemented to appease players, additional costs for players are expected moving forward, with messaging that players don't have to spend money if they don't want to.
Community Response and #CFBPlayDontPay
Many reviews include the hashtag #CFBPlayDontPay, originating from Bordeaux. Players have expressed disappointment, noting that the game itself is otherwise solid. User finger wrote: 'It sucks to give this a negative review, because gameplay wise, depth wise, and presentation wise, this is the best College Football game to date. But, EA had to go and ruin it.' Another user, CorruptSleet, added: 'Probably the best Dynasty and Road To Glory have ever been and it’s all overshadowed by EA’s biblical greed.'
EA Unlikely to Reverse Course
Despite the backlash, sources suggest EA is unlikely to remove the microtransactions, drawing parallels to the Star Wars: Battlefront 2 controversy, where EA eventually removed loot boxes after massive fan protest. However, the company's stance appears firm, with one source stating: 'A band-aid might be put out to make people happy in the short term, but additional costs for players are going to be added moving forward.' This raises concerns that EA Sports FC 27 may launch with even more microtransactions.
