Is this race for higher OVRs going to be a constant thing in the game?

Yes. Simply put, FCM is a hamster wheel and we’re all on it. We chase the highest-rated cards and EA keeps manufacturing new cards to keep us “spinning the wheel.” Rinse and repeat ad infinitum.

There used to be a reset every summer (in the run-up to the return to league play in Europe), but EA cancelled it last year and has announced it’s doing the same this year. Thus, top cards (that are now 120) will soon be 121, 122, etc., etc., etc.

All of the above is designed so that EA can cultivate (and then milk dry) as many “whales” as possible. These are users who are willing/able to spend thousands of dollars to maintain the best possible squads. The rest of us, as far as I can tell, are just cannon fodder for the whales. We hope to find just enough enjoyment that our time spent “grinding” feels somewhat worth it. Alas, over the last 6-8 months it has felt less and less worth it due to a number of changes EA has made. In short, more rewards than ever before are now behind a paywall, earned rewards are poorer than before, and, as a result, the gap between the “haves” and “have nots” in the game is greater than its ever been. Those of us who’ve been at this for years are now less competitive than we used to be and, meanwhile, EA has not substantially improved actual gameplay in forever. So, basically, we get less and less while EA tries to charge us more and more.

I hate to sound so negative, but I figure it’s better to be frank (if a bit cynical) than sugar-coat the reality of the situation. EA has lost touch with its “if it’s in the game, it’s in the game” roots. They are in the process of being bought by private equity (i.e., the Saudis and Jared Kushner — just Google it) and are less and less about making realistic sports simulations and more and more about creating sports-themed “casinos” where monetization and micro-transactions stand between the gamer and the gameplay. For example, in recent weeks they triggered an online revolt within their College Football fanbase due to these strategies (Google it). Alas, what we now see in FCM is what happens when the fanbase fails to push back against corporate greed.

I’ve played EA titles for over 30 years (I’m old!) and I still play FCM, but I spend little to nothing (because I’ve become disgusted with EA) and I think about quitting multiple times a week. For the moment, I keep playing mainly because I’ve invested a ton of time in my squad and I have a league that I manage. But one of these days there’s going to come a “straw” that breaks the camel’s back and, barring major changes from EA, I’ll quit and never come back to this or any other EA title. It would be hypocritical of me to tell you to quit, but if you plan to stay then at least you can do so with eyes wide open. Hope this helps you make an informed decision.

I’d chase after them if there weren't already 6 or 7 versions of the best players released by the time TOTS arrives... It’s baffling and ridiculous; the game moves so fast you can't keep up—you log in, only to find you're no longer where you were just a week or two ago. Sure, it’s a hamster wheel, but do they have to spin it *that* fast? It feels like overkill. I max out a team in a month, and a month later, the OVR has jumped by 2-3 points and 2–3 new versions of the players I just acquired have been released—it’s anything but not comfortable. Where is the chance to just log in and enjoy my team? Instead, I feel like my lineup becomes obsolete every two weeks. A specific version should run for at least two months before the next one comes along. You spent the last month or two building up your TOTS, UTOTS, and TOTW players, and now they’re already obsolete... Look at the badge—it expires in a month, and the TOTS event is already over... It’s a crazy, endless hamster wheel... I log into the new event and see milestones offering 100 gems in exchange for my time and money—it’s ridiculous. Sorry for being blunt; I hope the moderators appreciate the honesty and take into account what we—the vast majority and the community—are saying. They really ought to pay more attention to us, because right now, I feel like it makes no difference to them whether we play or not, or whether we stick with the game or leave

I’m right there with you!

The “hamster wheel” definitely spins too fast. Like you, I’m onboard with the idea of creating my ultimate squad… at least in principle. But my main motivation for playing is not to collect “cards.” Call me old school, but the thing I most want is enjoyable matchplay. Unfortunately, EA has chronically underinvested in improvements to the game engine and, with new cards coming out every few weeks, my best players have no sooner entered my lineup than they seem to be getting nerfed (in order to make me chase the next meta card!). It’s a business model that’s become more and more crass with every passing month.

I get why corporate greed has led to this “monetization” model, but it’s absolutely killed the franchise as a place where you might hope to play decent football. I’ve long said that I would happily pay a flat fee (as in the old days) or even a subscription if the matchplay were more consistent and fun, but I just can’t see my way to blowing my hard-earned money in a football-themed casino where my winnings have only modest value (due to inconsistent matchplay) and where that value evaporates within 4-6 weeks. To put it more bluntly — I just don’t appreciate being treated like a hamster!

It seems to me, my friend, that in this game, it’s just a cycle of weekly progression—over and over again. They fail to realize that this actually works against them; things have sped up so much that it’s counterproductive. Players are tending to sit back and settle for the cards they already have; this rapid pace has actually dampened motivation—I see people writing this everywhere. It doesn't pay to rush in and invest quickly, which means the community isn't in a hurry with the game anymore, leading to a drop in spending. Don't they realize this at EA? More people are just playing casually with their existing squads and older cards rather than racing to compete for the newest ones. I think the pace has become too fast—how can people be expected to keep up with something that changes so rapidly?

Agree 100%. The balance is off. The only rationale that seems to explain the current strategy is that the EA dev team now fully answers to the marketing department and the marketing “suits” are out to milk the “whales” who will spend hundreds (maybe thousands?!) per event no matter how quickly their winnings become obsolete. Beyond that, it just doesn’t make much sense.