FIFA 18 September Calendar Dates

Published on by FutEconomist 24 Comments Updated on

It’s FIFA season! With the official launch of FIFA 18 just two weeks away, let’s take a look at what we can expect to see over the next couple weeks. Below, we’ve mapped out everything from potential SBCs to official launch dates (So you can better plan your “sick” days). Please note that some dates are speculative.

September 12th

• Demo Release
  ○ Many believed that the demo was set to drop on the 12th at 1 am UK time. This was based on the release time that Microsoft and Sony advertised on their posts about the demo. As it turns out, the drop was closer to 4 pm UK after the marketplaces for the both consoles updated. In situations like this, EA is at the mercy of the platform (Xbox and PS) which have proven to be a bit inconsistent and unpredictable. This is important to keep in mind for EA Access.

September 15th

• FIFA 17 Web App Shut Down
  ○ EA confirmed this date with an article on their site. They did not specify a time.

September 20th

• EA Access (Xbox)
  ○ While the official release date of EA access is set for the 21st, in previous years and in other games that offered EA access (i.e. Madden) the release came sometime the evening before.
• EA Access SBCs
  ○ Last year, EA dropped an “EA Access SBC” that offered a blue kit and a gold players pack. Based on this, we anticipate that EA will do something in a similar fashion this year.

• Launch of Weekly/Daily Challenges
  ○ This year, EA are rolling out daily and weekly challenges. Our guess is that they’ll have some daily challenges set up for the EA Access members. We are less confident that they’ll have weekly challenges ready to go on this date because of the awkward start time in the middle of the week. An alternative start date for the weekly challenges could be Monday the 25th.

• TOTW 1
  ○ Last year, EA released their first TOTW on the 21st of September. This was one day after the release of the web app. This year, it doesn’t appear that there will be any platform up and running at the launch of this potential TOTW (Web app or EA Access). While this doesn’t necessarily mean EA can’t release this TOTW for FIFA 18, it does make it a bit awkward. In the same vein, it would be a bit awkward to not have a TOTW in packs for EA Access and the start of the Icon and Ronaldo release.

• Launch of Squad Battles
  ○ Under the same reasoning as the challenges, our guess is that EA will have squad battles ready to try in some fashion for EA Access. The only tricky thing here could be the reward system. Essentially a single player version of FUT Champs, we are not yet sure how long the ranking window will be (equivalent to the weekend we had this past year to play 40 games). While it would certainly be a bummer for EA Access members if they weren’t able to try out one of this year’s headline new features, EA might prefer to kick things off at the full launch.

September 21st

• FIFA 18 Web App (Desktop Version)
  ○ EA confirmed this date with an article on their website. They did not specify an exact time, but it does read "September 21 GMT".
• First League SBC(s)
  ○ Admittedly, the date that we set here is the most arbitrary on this calendar. Last year the Giovinco and Jonas SBCs dropped on the 22nd of September which lined up with the official launch of EA Access for FIFA 17. This year, the advertised launch of EA Access is the 21st. Assuming the same pattern as last year, it’s possible that we could see some sort of league SBC(s) drop on this date.

• Daily Gifts
  ○ In years past, EA gave out daily gifts as a reward for opening the web app or companion app every 24 hours. Last year, the daily gifts lasted 4 weeks, starting September 20th (the release of the web app) and ending October 17th. We anticipate EA will do something similar this year.
  

September 22nd

• Companion App Launch
  ○ EA confirmed this date with an article post on their website. They did not specify a time.
  

September 26th

• Ronaldo/Icon Edition Release Dates
  ○ EA confirmed this date with an article post on their website.

• Ronaldo/Icon Edition SBCs
  ○ Given that EA did special SBCs for the EA Access members last year, one might guess that they would have some sort of exclusive SBC for those that ordered the Ronaldo and Icon Edition.

September 27th

• TOTW 2
  ○ Assuming EA follow the same schedule as last year, we will likely see our second TOTW.
  

September 28th

• Marquee Matchups
  ○ Last year, EA kicked off Marquee Matchups the Thursday of launch week. Using history as our guide, we think there is decent chance they do this again.

  

September 29th

• FIFA 18 Worldwide Release
  ○ EA confirmed this date with an article post on their website.

• One to Watch Release
  ○ EA confirmed the release date of OTW cards into packs during their FUT Live event and on Twitter.

  

• August Player of the Month SBC -- Mane
  ○ Last year, EA released the August POTM SBC for Sterling the Friday following the worldwide launch. POTM SBCs also regularly dropped last year on Fridays. With this in mind, one could speculate that EA will release the POTM version of Mane on the first Friday at launch. However, this is a very hyped SBC. Everyone and their uncle is planning on investing for this, and in an attempt to throw the investing community a curveball, we wouldn’t be surprised if EA skipped over the August POTM altogether.
  

• Icon SBC
  ○ Last year EA released an SBC for a loan Del Piero item on the day of the worldwide launch. With this in mind, we wouldn’t be surprised if EA did something similar this year.
  

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