"We know we are only getting 5 of them": EA FC 24 player comments on Ultimate Birthday cards

As EA FC 24 lights the candles to celebrate 15 years of Football Ultimate Team, the Ultimate Birthday event has kicked off, promising two weeks of 5-star festivities. From traditional upgrades like 5-star Weak Foot and Skill Moves to the introduction of new fantasy ICONs and celebratory PlayStyle upgrades, the event is designed to be a grand party.

Yet, amid the excitement, a Reddit discussion has surfaced, highlighting a concerning sentiment among the player base:

The community's response to EA FC 24's Ultimate Birthday cards has been a mix of frustration, disillusionment, and nostalgia for past celebrations. Players are sharing their experiences and strategies, such as saving packs for specific Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) or relying on SBC players to build their squads, as a testament to the current state of the game. The discussion took place under a post by u/Adventurous_Team285 on the r/EASportsFC subreddit.

A common theme is the struggle to obtain high-value players, with many lamenting the rarity of pulling a card worth 500k or more despite consistent elite performances and engagement with the game's content.

Duplication issues and the apparent targeting of high-value cards towards a select group of players, including streamers and the elite, exacerbate disatisfaction with situation. The sentiment that birthday celebrations have devolved from genuine events to mere promotions resonated with many in the community.

The cycle of continuous promo cards, Team of the Week (TOTW) releases, and the seemingly deliberate scarcity of top-tier cards has fueled a sense of futility and disenchantment among players. The reliance on Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) for team improvements and the sporadic "big win" from promos only