The launch of the new FIFA game is always a hotly-anticipated moment in the gaming community and the arrival of the latest edition is no different. The game, which has a general release date of 9 October, is the first in a decade to be released in October after being delayed by the pandemic.

Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Kylian Mbappé will be the cover star for all editions this year, replacing Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk who shared the duties last season.

What editions of FIFA 21 are available?

The latest offering from EA Sports is available in three different tiers, each offering different perks and even early access for players.

Standard Edition – The cheapest of the three options, the Standard Edition gives players everything they need to get up and running in the game. Special editions FUT kits, stadium items and up to three Rare Gold Packs are included, but players will miss out on the Homegrown talent option in Career Mode.

Champions Edition – The middle tier of the three editions is the Champions Edition, which allows players to access the game three days before the general release date. You also get all the perks of Standard Edition, plus up to 12 Rare Gold Packs.

Ultimate Edition – For the real serious players the top-spec option is the Ultimate Edition which gives players up to 24 Rare Gold Packs with the purchase. It is the most expensive of the three but you get the most complete version of the game and access from Tuesday 6 October.

Features and differences

As always the new FIFA offers a whole host of new ways to play the game and this year’s offering allows players to put together a dream team of their mates. The wildly popular FIFA Ultimate Team has been improved with new ways to team up in the FUT Community and a brand new Web App.

Another exciting change is the introduction of the FUT 100, an exclusive list of some of the most iconic players of all time with unique cards and true-to-life attributes. From Eric Cantona to Ferenc Puskás, you can play with some of the all-time greats. Players can also now customise the look of their teams both on and off the pitch with the option to unlock new stadiums, kits, badges and more.

Players’ in-game intelligence has been improved so Sergio Aguero will be making dynamic runs off the last man; goalkeeper’s are better able to deal with near post efforts and defenders now recognise passing lanes to make those vital interceptions.

Price and where to buy

Each edition of FIFA 21 has a different price, here’s how much each version of the game will cost in the US:

- Standard Edition - $59.99

- Champions Edition – $79.99

- Ultimate Edition - $99.99

Whether you are playing on PS4, Xbox One or PC, each version is available to pre-order from the online store. On the release date your game will be available to download.