FIFA 18 on Nintendo Switch: What to expect on the portable console

EA Sports' latest release of their world-famous football game will be a completely different beast on Nintendo's system. Here's what we know so far

FIFA 18 is coming out on the Nintendo Switch - but it will be a different game to the one you can play on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.

Put simply, the Switch version of the title has been built on a completely different engine, meaning you will be playing a recognisable game of FIFA but, nevertheless, one with several major and minor disrepancies when compared to the flagship editions.

FIFA 18: Everything you need to know

With EA Sports having launched their first game trailers and the EA Play and E3 events giving us a closer glimpse of what FIFA 18 will look like, here's what we know so far about its debut on Nintendo's latest system.

WHAT IS THE NINTENDO SWITCH?

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The Nintendo Switch is Nintendo's newest console. It is a hybrid between a home console and a portable one; to describe it in its most simple terms, the system comes with a tablet that can be played on the go as a handheld and also docked and played through a full-size television.

It features a 'Joy-Con' controller (pictured above) that comes in two separate parts. Those parts can be snapped into each side of the tablet to create a handheld console, attached to a more traditional controller or simply held like Wii remotes. The two parts can also be used as two individual controllers for multiplayer gaming.

WILL FIFA 18 BE PORTABLE ON THE SWITCH?

Yes. As is the console's design, FIFA 18 on the Switch can be played at home or on the go.

It will run at 60 frames per second both on the home console and the handheld, which is key. The resolution will be slightly better when docked, where it will run at 1080p compared to 720p on the portable machine.

It can also be played with the Joy-Con both attached and detached. The Switch will be playable with the normal controls but also on simpler four-button settings, which means that the Joy-Con can be split in half for two-player matches.

ARE THE XBOX & PS4 VERSIONS BETTER?

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Yes, to be blunt. The Switch edition of the game will not quite measure up to the Xbox One, PS4 or PC, because it is not as powerful a platform.

Those 'full' versions of the game run on the Frostbite engine, which was brought in for FIFA 17. By building the game on Frosbite, EA have been able to add new layers of depth and realism that won't be present on the Switch, which runs on its own, completely custom-built engine.

You'll notice it in little things like the authenticity of the grass and the crowds as well as in the overall gameplay and graphics.

That is not to say, however, that the Switch version isn't very good. EA are not just releasing a watered-down version of the game on Nintendo's system; they have built this from scratch specifically for the console, and it should be thought of primarily as portable.

"It's a portable FIFA," producer Andrei Lazarescu told Eurogamer. "It's the best portable FIFA we ever did. It has a lot of features and you can play in all of the possible configurations the console has. You can play handheld, docked, with a single Joy-Con, with dual Joy-Con, with a Pro Controller."

Lazarescu also confirmed that the Switch version will include certain new gameplay features such as the new crossing system and hard tackles, too.

WILL ULTIMATE TEAM BE ON THE SWITCH?

Yes! Ultimate Team can be played on the Switch and thanks to the console's portability, you can access your teams more easily than ever.

You could be sitting in a library, coffee shop or even on a plane and as long as you have access to Wi-Fi, Ultimate Team will be playable on the handheld version of the Switch. Public networks may not provide good enough internet speeds to play games, of course, but you should be able to manage your squads and open packs.

The new Icons, such as Ronaldo Nazario, will be included on the Switch. The only feature missing will be FUT Champions, which is the competitive gaming aspect of Ultimate Team on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

WILL THE JOURNEY BE ON THE SWITCH?

No. The Journey was made possible by the introduction of Frostbite and, as mentioned, Frostbite is not the game engine used on the Switch. The lack of The Journey and the quality of the gameplay and graphics are the primary areas in which you will feel the difference between the Switch and the top-end consoles.

WHEN WILL FIFA 18 BE RELEASED ON THE SWITCH?

FIFA 18 will be released for the Nintendo Switch on September 29, the same day as the games on the other consoles.

HOW MUCH WILL FIFA 18 COST ON THE SWITCH?

FIFA 18 on the Switch will retail at £54.99 - again, the same price as the standard edition on the other consoles. It is available to pre-order from many gaming stores now.