According to Tom Henderson via Twitter, EA has sent out a company email to declare the ban of the Russian national team from their FC 25 Coins games, although the extent to this decision has not yet been clarified. In a variety of modes, both offline and online, gamers can play as the Russian national team, complete with the national colors and players from the representing country. Modes like Hockey Ultimate Team and Be A Pro contain the ability to display any Russian likeness, while FC 25 's Ultimate Team offers the same.
The decision comes shortly after the NHL and IIHF announced their sanctions and bans, and it's understandable why EA and entities like the NHL and IIHF are taking steps to stand in solidarity with Ukraine. With EA becoming the first video game company to go through with a ban, it'll be interesting to see if other companies do the same, or if EA takes things further with other gaming titles, including its Battlefield and Medal of Honor series. Battlefield 2042 has made changes already but could be subject to further changes, as well as any other gaming franchise involving Russia in a war-themed world.
The details are less known about FC at this time, however, both FC and UEFA have announced the banning of Russia from the 2022 World Cup, so their appearance in FC 25 will likely be removed. The ban comes one day after proposed sanctions of the Russian flag and anthem fell flat, and the idea of Russian games being held at neutral sites was underwhelming. Modes like FC Ultimate Team and Squad Building Challenge feature both the Russian team and Russian-born athletes, and would be affected by the decision.
It remains to be seen when the anticipated release date of FC 25 will be announced, but more information is being released to the public that has soccer fans talking. One of EA's flagship titles has been low on news seeing the light of day, but information is surfacing on some capabilities of the upcoming game. For the first time in the franchise's history, FC 25 will bring cross-play to players, allowing console and PC gamers to play together. While EA looks to focus its attention on customization content, the long-awaited cross-play feature is something cheap FIFA 25 Coins gamers have been appealing to EA for quite some time, and it appears their wishes will come true.