Newer FC visuals look overly processed and less photorealistic than older titles

The overall presentation has started to look over-processed, cartoony, and less photorealistic compared to older entries (roughly FIFA 15–21).

Some issues:

Overly aggressive lighting and shadows
- Excessive bloom and contrast
- Shadows appear over-exaggerated and too harsh
- Pitches look unnaturally bright and saturated
Player models and faces
- Skin shaders often look waxy or plastic
- Facial details feel smoothed out instead of natural
- High-quality face scans seem over-corrected by post-processing
- Players often look more like animated/cartoon characters rather than realistic footballers, especially due to lighting, shaders, and smoothing
Color grading
- Kits, grass, and environments look overly vibrant
- Less of the muted, broadcast-style look older FIFAs had
- Feels more stylized than realistic
- Loss of “TV broadcast” realism
- Older FIFAs felt closer to real match footage
- Newer games prioritize clarity and spectacle over natural presentation

In addition, HyperMotion appears to have done more harm than good visually and in terms of realism. While the increased animation data was meant to improve authenticity, the sheer number of animations often results in players moving in an uncanny or unnatural manner. Transitions between animations can feel overly complex, delayed, or disconnected, making player movement look less human and more animated. Older titles, despite having fewer animations, often felt more grounded and believable because movements were simpler, clearer, and more cohesive.