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EA Sports Hit with Lawsuit Surrounding “Dictating Outcomes to Drive Up Sales”

Developer EA Sports has been in the headlines a lot over recent weeks, this time with the news that... Pablo | 7. December 2020

Developer EA Sports has been in the headlines a lot over recent weeks, this time with the news that they have been hit with another lawsuit surrounding FIFA 21. It has now been claimed that the developer has used “deceptive practices” and “false advertising” in an attempt to drive FIFA Ultimate Team sales.

Plaintiffs have claimed that results are scripted, with many fans having filed laswsuits as a result. FIFA Ultimate Team is one of the games’ most popular modes, having generated some $1.49 billion in revenue last year alone. Jason Zajnoc, Danyael Williams and Pranko Lozano are the gamers behind the lawsuits, which have recently been brought to the attention of the court in California.

What the Lawsuit Accusses EA Sports Of

The lawsuit claims that EA Sports knowingly tricked FIFA 21 players into purchasing Ultimate Team loot boxes, as a result of the game difficulty having been adjusted through the use of artificial intelligence. Those involved claim that this is having a significant impact upon match results.

Meanwhile, EA Sports has also been accused of selling more team packs due to their scripting practice. The first lawsuit was filed back in November, pointing to the use of “Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment” and “Adaptive Difficulty”. EA Sports have called such claims “baseless”, however the gamers in question believe that such practices are against Californian consumer protection laws.

What is Scripting in FIFA?

EA Sports has been accused of scripting in the past, with player stat points being adjusted on cards an in-game. This can unsurprisingly effect results, whether it be because of a misplaced pass or inaccurate shot. Scripting is carried out in order to entice gamers into buying additional Ultimate Team packs, in the hope of gaining access to better players.
The Ultimate Team mode also features in Madden and NHL, with this not being the first time EA Sports has found themselves in hot water in this area. In fact, another lawsuit was filed earlier in 2020, claiming that EA Sports had broken gambling laws in many of their titles. Meanwhile, additional lawsuits have been filed in both France and the Netherlands, with EA Sports facing the prospect of having to pay over $11 million in fines.