Ubisoft bets on football chaos

So, guys, it looks like Ubisoft has not only decided to enter the world of fantasy footballbut also decided to mix this role with decisions in real time during NFL games. That's right, Ubisoft has launched the open beta of NFL Primetime Fantasyand Brazil was one of the first to receive the news. Now that's it, right? There's nothing like watching the giants of American football go down hard in São Paulo, while you manipulate the destiny of your fantasy team on the spot!

How does it work?

Unlike traditional fantasy games, where you choose your team at the beginning of the season and basically pray that your players don't get injured, here the game is live. During NFL games, you make decisions in real time, like a gamer's version of NFL coaching, but without the millions of dollars and stress of a playoff game. Need to trade a player? Afraid of seeing your quarterback get destroyed in the middle of a blitz? No problem! You can substitute players on the fly, activate scoring boosts and, of course, collect cards of your favorite players to build that dream team.

And, look, there's already a sneaky monetization move going on here: whoever does the pre-registration of the game still takes one pack of cards as a gift and some 100 adrenaline points (Whatever this does, I imagine it's like a virtual Red Bull for your team). In other words, you can already smell that microtransaction in the air, right? Because, as always, whoever pays more has the advantage – nothing very different from the schemes Ultimate Team of FIFAonly now with a football helmet instead of golden cleats.

Real-time decisions? Is it like a strategy game?

Think of a crazy intersection of Football Manager with Age of Empiresbut in a more agile and addictive format. Every real-life move can be manipulated by you within the game, while Jalen Hurts If you're about to throw a pass in the red zone, for example, you activate a touchdown boost to ensure that the play is worth a few extra points for your team. This creates a dynamic that is unprecedented in the world of fantasy games, and was clearly designed to captivate those who enjoy the sport all the time. As if following your team wasn't enough, now you have to stay glued to your cell phone screen checking the lineup.

And what to expect from the future?

For now, the beta is only open to Android users here in Brazil, but Ubisoft's idea is to expand this to more devices as the season progresses. NFL is moving forward. In other words, there is a testing phase going on, like that demo you play in the store and wait for the official launch. During this phase, you can already participate in matches while the regular season and playoffs are taking place, which means that the game will be updated as the NFL season progresses. You can even imagine some themed events when the Super Bowl arrives.

Now the big mystery is how this model real time fantasy will catch on with hardcore fantasy players. After all, the idea of ​​changing the lineup while the ball is flying sounds great, but it can be a nightmare for those who are already used to the tranquility of selecting a team at the beginning of the week and just praying that no player hurts his knee in the middle of a practice.

Interesting fact about the franchise:

If you think Ubisoft is tripping by releasing a game fantasy footballit is worth remembering that this is not the first time that the company has tried to enter the world of American sports. Years ago, they tried to launch a basketball game that, well… was not exactly a success. Now, with NFL Primetime Fantasyit seems like they are betting everything on this new game model, and it will be interesting to see how it will unfold. In fact, one of the great things about the game is the ability to select teams even during the playoffs, something that is not common in traditional fantasy games.

Ultimately, Ubisoft is trying to stand out in a market dominated by EA and its sports franchises. And, who knows, this real-time bet could be the difference that is missing to attract a crowd that wants a little more excitement in fantasy. So, are you ready to select your dream team and win in the NFL? Or are you just going to watch from afar while your nerdy friend blows everyone away with touchdown boosts at the right time?