It's something EA has been hinting towards, given the 2014 entry wasn't even developed for most platforms, and the downturn in special content: the 20 entries allowed you to re-enact famous moments and change the course of history, but that has since disappeared. While EA has gone with standalone releases in the past – World Cup tie-in games were also usually more fun and accessible than their similarly titled counterparts, to cater to its massive popularity – all the way from World Cup 98 to 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, that's not the case anymore. That moment was earlier this week, with the roll out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia update as free downloadable content for anyone who owns a copy of FIFA 18 across all platforms. And for those who enjoy determining the fate of virtual matches as much as cheering on their favourite team, getting their hands on the tie-in video game – made by EA Sports for over two decades – in the run-up to the tournament is an exciting time. The FIFA World Cup is a special time for football fans.

Fifa 18 update