'Some people think it's live' - how is the commentary in EA FC 26 put together?

"These days, however, they don't just have to sound their best for real-life games. Gremlin Interactive's groundbreaking Actua Soccer in 1995, which featured BBC Sport duo Barry Davies and Trevor Brooking on the mic, was the first football video game to feature a running match commentary, albeit a basic one. What might have been a gimmick became part of an ongoing quest for realism, evolving over the decades through the long-running Pro-Evo Soccer and Fifa series of games, to EA FC and Konami's eFootball."

"Commentary has become part of the experience of millions of gamers on dozens of different titles down the years, providing a reaction for everything from praise of a glorious goal or - more likely - criticism if you miss an easy chance. But how is it put together now so it sounds real? Image source, EAFC26 "That's a terrible shot," groans Guy Mowbray. "What were they thinking!?" adds Sue Smith, to emphasise exactly how much you messed up."

"I have had some of my mates' kids message me randomly going, 'you just told me off for shooting from 30 yards' and I am like, 'what?',' Smith, who is a regular guest summarising real-life action on Sky's Soccer Saturday, tells BBC Sport. "Then I realise it is the game. "It's the same when I meet strangers, or on social media - it shows the impact of the game, how many people play it, and how immersive it is."

Running match commentary in football video games began in 1995 with Actua Soccer, initiating a push for realism in audio presentation. The practice expanded through long-running franchises such as Pro-Evo, FIFA and modern titles like EA FC and eFootball. Commentary provides real-time reactions ranging from praise for spectacular goals to criticism for missed chances, and contributes significantly to player immersion. Professional commentators often record hundreds of isolated lines describing action they have not seen, and those lines are assembled to cover many in-game scenarios. Players sometimes take in-game remarks personally, illustrating the commentary's social and emotional impact.

Read at www.bbc.com