Women’s football will feature on popular football video game FIFA 16 for the first time in history, with 12 international teams selected.
In 22 years, only men’s football has featured in the game, but with the recent developments to the women’s game – including the creation of the Super League – alterations have been made to allow for women to feature.
England defender Steph Houghton, who will be leading the line for the Lionesses at the Women’s World Cup in Canada this summer, will be included alongside her team-mates in the new-look game and was clearly delighted at the prospect.
“To be one of the first female players included is something we’ll always be able to look back on,” said the 27-year-old Manchester City star.
“Hopefully it will help raise the profile of the women’s game even further.”
England will meet Colombia, France and Mexico in the group stages in this year’s World Cup, beginning on June 6, and the latter two sides will join the Lionesses on the upcoming game. Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden and the USA will also appear when the game is released in September.
“Quite a few of us in the team play Fifa so I’m sure there will be a bit of banter about our ratings. I’m looking forward to scoring as myself for the first time,” Houghton added.
Game designers used the services of the all-time top international goalscorer Abby Wambach, to record the movements of a female footballer and allow a realistic contrast to the action of the men in the game. Furthermore, a number of female footballers have been head scanned to create a life-like look, allowing for all starting XI members, as well as selected reserves, to feature with extreme realism.
David Rutter, the vice president and general manager of EA Sports commented on the changes, saying: “Bringing some of the best women’s players and teams in the world to our franchise is a massive event for EA Sports.”
