How Long is a Full Squad Battles Game? Your Ultimate Guide
So, you’re diving into the world of Squad Battles, EA Sports’ single-player mode in their football franchise, and you’re wondering exactly how long each match will take. Here’s the straightforward answer: a full Squad Battles game consists of two 4-minute halves in EA Sports FC 24.
However, the total time you spend on a single game will be longer than just those 8 minutes. Let’s break down why that is, and explore some other frequently asked questions to help you optimize your Squad Battles experience.
The Time Warp: Why 4 Minutes Doesn’t Equal 4 Minutes
The core game time in Squad Battles is, indeed, 4 minutes per half. Yet, it’s a common observation that each half tends to stretch closer to 6 minutes in real-time. What gives? This discrepancy arises from several factors:
- Cutscenes and Replays: Every goal is followed by a brief replay, and other significant moments (like red cards or penalties) also trigger cutscenes. These snippets add seconds to the overall time.
- Ball Out of Play: When the ball goes out of bounds for a throw-in, corner, or goal kick, the clock slows down significantly, if not completely stops. The animation of the player retrieving the ball and preparing to put it back into play eats up real-world time.
- Substitutions: Making substitutions pauses the game, allowing you to strategically adjust your team. Each substitution, while valuable, adds to the overall match duration.
- Pauses: You, or even the AI, can pause the game. These strategic breaks, even if short, accumulate over the course of a match.
- Match Introduction and Ending Sequences: Before you even kick off, there’s a brief pre-match sequence. After the final whistle, you’ll see post-match replays, stat screens, and celebrations.
- Loading Times: Transitions between menus, loading the match, and returning to the Squad Battles screen all contribute to the overall time investment.
Considering these elements, it’s reasonable to estimate that a single Squad Battles game, in total, will consume around 15 to 18 minutes of your time.
Planning Your Squad Battles Grind
Knowing that each game takes roughly 15-18 minutes is crucial for planning your Squad Battles sessions, particularly if you’re aiming for specific rewards or trying to complete objectives.
Time Commitment for Multiple Games
If you’re wondering how long a specific number of games takes, here’s a quick breakdown:
- 4 Squad Battles Games: Approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- 6 Squad Battles Games: Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Remember, these are estimates. Some games will be quicker than others, depending on factors like the number of goals scored and the frequency of stoppages.
The 40-Game Limit
A key aspect of Squad Battles is the 40-game limit that contributes to your weekly score. After playing 40 matches, any subsequent games won’t add to your rank or rewards, though you will still earn match coins and objective progress.
It’s important to manage your time effectively to maximize your Battle Points within these 40 games. Refreshing opponents strategically and selecting appropriate difficulty levels are crucial for earning the best rewards.
Squad Battles and Objectives
Squad Battles is a great way to complete objectives and earn rewards while playing offline. You can tailor your team and play style to suit the specific objectives you’re pursuing, earning progress in a controlled environment.
Squad Battles: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to delve deeper into the world of Squad Battles:
1. Are Squad Battles 6 minutes a half?
No, in EA Sports FC 24, Squad Battles matches feature 4-minute halves, not 6-minute halves as in some previous versions.
2. Is Squad Battles worth it in EA Sports FC 24?
Yes, Squad Battles can be a worthwhile game mode. It offers a reliable source of rewards, including coins and packs, especially for players who enjoy single-player gameplay. It’s also a great way to complete objectives and improve your team. You might also find interesting insights into the psychology of games at GamesLearningSociety.org.
3. What happens after 40 games in Squad Battles?
After playing 40 Squad Battles matches in a week, you will still earn normal match Coins and progress towards Objectives, but you will no longer earn Battle Points that contribute to your weekly ranking and rewards.
4. Do you have to play all 40 games in Squad Battles?
No, you are not required to play all 40 games. However, only the first 40 matches you play each week will count towards your weekly score. You can strategically refresh your opponents and select the difficulty levels that best suit your skill level and time constraints.
5. Is it worth doing Squad Battles?
Whether Squad Battles is “worth it” depends on your individual goals and preferences. If you enjoy single-player gameplay, want to earn rewards, and are looking for a reliable way to complete objectives, then Squad Battles can be a valuable game mode.
6. Can you play more than 40 games in Squad Battles?
Yes, you can play more than 40 games, but only the first 40 count toward your weekly Battle Points score. You can continue playing to earn coins, complete objectives, or simply enjoy the gameplay.
7. Is Squad Battles hard?
The difficulty of Squad Battles depends on the difficulty level you select. You can choose from a range of options, from Beginner to Ultimate, allowing you to adjust the challenge to your skill level.
8. Are Squad Battles unlimited?
No, the battles themselves are not limited as you can refresh the available teams indefinitely. However, only 40 games count towards your weekly ranking and rewards. After those 40, you still earn coins and objective progress.
9. Why am I getting 0 points in Squad Battles?
This is normal after you’ve played 40 Squad Battles matches in a given week. After those 40 games, you’ll only receive match coins and objective progress. Your Battle Points will not increase until the weekly reset.
10. How many points do you need to get top 200 in Squad Battles?
The number of points required to reach the Top 200 in Squad Battles can vary from week to week, depending on the player base’s activity. However, you generally need a significantly higher score than what’s required for Elite 1. Aim for around 100,000 points as a rough estimate.
11. How often does Squad Battles reset?
Squad Battles resets every Sunday at 08:00 UTC.
12. What is the difficulty in Squad Battles FIFA 23?
In Squad Battles, the difficulty levels range from Beginner to Ultimate. Higher difficulties offer more Battle Points per game, but also require more skill and effort to win. Choose the difficulty that allows you to consistently win games and earn the most Battle Points.
13. Does chemistry matter in Squad Battles?
Yes, chemistry matters in Squad Battles, just as it does in other FUT game modes. A team with high chemistry will perform better on the field, with players making more accurate passes, better runs, and generally playing more cohesively.
14. How long does it take to finish one Squad Battles game with all the celebrations and replays?
Including cutscenes, replays, loading times, and menu navigation, each Squad Battles game takes approximately 15-18 minutes to complete.
15. How much storage does the game take up?
While the article doesn’t explicitly say how much storage the game takes up, it does mention a storage requirement of 65 GB.
Final Whistle
Understanding the time commitment involved in Squad Battles is essential for planning your gameplay and maximizing your rewards. While the in-game clock shows 4-minute halves, the total time per game is considerably longer due to various pauses and animations. Factor this into your strategy, choose your difficulty wisely, and enjoy the grind! And for more on the learning side of gaming, don’t forget to check out Games Learning Society.