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In a sizeable exclusive for fans obsessed with minor details, GamesRadar+ can confirm three new stadia for FIFA 18. LA Galaxy’s Stubhub Center, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Amex Stadium, and Huddersfield Town’s John Smith’s Stadium all join the line-up of real-life grounds for this year’s game.
The latter pair aren’t necessarily a surprise given that EA looks to include all top-flight English stadia in the game as part of its Premier League licence, but concrete details well ahead of release are always welcome regardless.
Huddersfield were promoted less than two weeks ago after winning the Championship play-offs, and creative director Matt Prior says the EA Canada crew began the process of including John Smith’s Stadium as soon as the final was over.
“Timelines are tight, so they’ll have had all the necessary references ready, and it would have been a matter of kicking that off,” reveals Prior. “The structure [of the stadium in-game] is being worked on as we speak. Literally with that last penalty, the job begins. Brighton are already being worked on, and Newcastle are already in the game.”
Clubs relegated since 2015 have had their stadia retained within FIFA despite exiting the Premier League, hence no need to start afresh on St James' Park after the Geordies' sealed a return to the elite. Prior says the resources earmarked for a third Prem ground won’t be lost, however: “Newcastle not needing to be added doesn’t mean one less stadium. There’s a budget for teams, players, and stadiums, and it would be appropriately applied elsewhere.”
LA Galaxy’s Stubhub Center featured in GamesRadar+s recent hands-on with FIFA 18, comprehensive details of which you can read here.
FIFA 18 is released for PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC on 29 September.
