Q: What is Arena Mode?
A: Arena Mode is our new PVP mode where players can match up against other players
and compete IN REAL TIME!
Q: How does Arena Mode work?
A: Arena is different than Showdown in that you don’t just matchmake right away. When
you select the Arena button in the main menu, it will take you to a carousel of active
tournaments. These tournaments have different restrictions on entry, such as lineup
OVR, specific lineup and more. Select the tournament you would like to enter and tap
the play button!
In the first phase of the beta, there will only be 1 tournament to choose from. Be sure to
check back over time to see when new tournaments are added!
Tournament rewards are based on how many times you win before you complete the
tournament or reach a certain amount of losses. In our first tournament, you can win up
to five matches or lose up to two matches. Once you reach either condition, that
tournament will end and you will receive rewards based on the amount of wins you
achieved.
Q: Can I enter other tournaments while in an active tournament?
A: No, once you enter a tournament, you can only compete in that tournament until you
complete it or press the “Give Up” button.
Q: What types of tournaments will we have during the beta?
A: The current plan is to start with one tournament and add more over time.
Q: How does matchmaking work in Arena?
A: At the core, it utilizes the same matchmaking as Showdown. However, we do
matchmaking that prioritizes by region to ensure that you are getting the fastest and
smoothest experience possible.
Q: Is gameplay different in Arena?
A: For the most part, no. However, you’ll notice quickly that playing against other users in
real time is very different! There are some penalties that we don’t use in most of our
existing game modes that will be present in this mode in order to ensure fair play.
We are also restricting the use of manual switch on defense due to technical limitations.
All Arena matches are configured to use auto switching while we investigate possible
solutions.
Q: Can I play against others in real time in other modes like League vs. League or
Play a Friend?
A: Not currently, no. We are looking into the possibility of this in the future, but nothing to
announce now.
Q: Can I choose what lineup I play with?
A: As long as it meets the tournament requirements, yes! For example, if the tournament
requirement is to use a lineup at least 80 OVR, you can use any lineup you have as long
as it is 80 OVR.
Q: Why is Arena launching as a beta?
A: With a mode as complex as this, we want to make sure users understand that there
may be some issues while playing. We’ve put the mode through extensive internal
testing, however, with a player base as global as ours, there are bound to be some
issues with a roll out.
Q: When does the beta begin?
A: The beta is scheduled to begin in mid to late August.
Q: Who can participate in the beta?
A: All users will be eligible. The beta will be in the standard client version of the game
that you already have. To ensure stability, we will start by rolling it out to subsets of users
in specific regions and continue to expand after that.
Q: How long does the beta last?
A: We’ll be running Arena as a beta after S4 launches.
Q: What can we expect after the beta has ended?
A: We’re currently working on adding more functionality and features to Arena mode.
Nothing to announce today, but hope to release more info as we get closer to the full
feature release.
Q: Where can I leave feedback on the Arena Mode beta?
A: There will be surveys in game during the beta and you can also leave feedback on our
different social media channels. Lastly, we have a EA Help page set up so you can see
the latest known issues and let us know how your experience is. It is located here!
KNOWN ISSUES
- Using any type of “interrupt” is discouraged while playing. This includes closing the
app, interacting with OS notification banners, pressing the home button, etc. Doing
so will cause your client to lose connection and desync from our servers.
- There are issues shooting free throws in the mode at the moment - the shot meter
lags and can be difficult to use.
- Low End Devices will encounter frame rate loss during Gameplay.
- If a “no viable server” is encountered when trying to play RTPvP this means you
currently do not have a stable connection to play or there is no available server
near you.
Continue to stay tuned to our social channels for more campaigns and game updates!