The latest in EAâs FIFA soccer franchise wonât just star your favorite current players, but will also feature the fictional squad from the hit AppleTV show Ted Lasso. And the character himself will be a playable coach in the upcoming game, with a fully mocapped Jason Sudeikis to bounce about alongside your team, waving his arms, and doing whatever it is a soccer coach even does.
I've got goosebumps. Seeinâ my guys in CGI is so weird. Except Roy for some reason. pic.twitter.com/YqPuvw2jHK
â Ted Lasso (@TedLasso) September 21, 2022
Today, within minutes of each other, both the official Ted Lasso and FIFA Twitter accounts revealed a one-minute trailer that sets up Lassoâs playable appearance in the game. Characterized as an unlikely soccer genius whose knowledge of the game might be sparse, but who is quite a successful coach regardless, a CGI Jason Sudeikis walks out onto a virtual field before clapping, pointing, and cheering in victory. In the trailer, we also catch glimpses of (fictional) soccer reporter Trent Crimm, Coach Beard, and several AFC Richmond stars, including Roy Kent and Jaime Tartt.
You can find the full details of the Ted Lasso / FIFA 23 crossover in EAâs official announcement
This reveal was teased a bit yesterday when the Ted Lasso Twitter account tweeted a picture of Sudeikis standing in front of an array of cameras and lights. âLook out, Mario!â the tweet reads, âYouâre not the only pixelated man with a mustache who never knows where the tube is taking him.â Before that, as PC Gamer notes, leaked database rankings for the game hinted at the crossover.
While itâs a suitably themed crossover, fleshed out by the inclusion of the full AFC Richmond squadâwhom youâll be able to play as in any modeâlooking at the footage, itâs hard to avoid that creepy uncanny valley feeling. Especially as the camera moves around Lassoâs face at the end of the trailer, revealing him in full 3D polygonal form, something just isnât right. That poor (and kind, and astonishingly emotionally intelligent) man.
