Ultimate Team, commonly referred to as FUT, is one of the main modes of the EA FC series.
Players can spend money on virtual card packs containing a random selection of star footballers to build a dream squad.
It is possible to trade the cards and build up in-game “coins” without using real money, but it is generally seen as a slower and less effective way to play.
Earlier this year The Pan-European Game Information body (PEGI), announced it was overhauling its age-rating system used in 38 countries including the UK.
It made the decision to brand any game containing so-called loot boxes – “paid random items” – as a PEGI 16 by default.
EA FC falls under the new rules due to the inclusion of FUT, earning it the higher rating.
Critics have compared FUT and similar modes in other games to gambling, with recent research finding they “blurred the lines”.
Electronic Arts, the game’s publisher, has pushed back on the claims and stressed players don’t need to spend money to participate in FUT.
The UK government chose not to bring loot boxes under the Gambling Act 2005, external, saying there was no evidence of a “causative link” to harms.
Despite the criticisms, FUT and other loot box-style modes remain popular.
According to EA’s latest financial report, , externalFUT was responsible for a “substantial portion” of the $5.5bn annual revenue it made from selling add-on content for its games.
