EA Gate: ‘FIFA’ trading scandal investigation reveals ‘one or more’ internal accounts are involved in illegal distribution of FUT items

EA is investigating the reported illegal distribution of FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) items to specific “FIFA” accounts. In its early efforts, the game's publisher confirmed that one or more than EA accounts were found to be involved in the “FIFA” trading scandal that has since gained the moniker “EA Gate.”

EA finds internal accounts participating in illegal FUT items handouts

Over the last week, the EA Sports community was rocked by the EA Gate after players found that precious FUT items were being handed out via black market-type schemes. To those who are not familiar with the sports simulation franchise, FUT is a game mode introduced since the “FIFA 09” iteration where players get to act as a team manager and build their “Ultimate Team.”

Gamers can build their team through collecting cards, which are available through packs in microtransactions or dealing with other players through the in-game Trade Market. In the EA Gate’s case, though, individual “FIFA” accounts were reportedly provided FUT items outside of these methods.

EA is still in the early stage of investigating the “FIFA” FUT scandal, but it confirmed that accounts within the company had been used to carry out the illicit trading. The developer has yet to determine whether these accounts were hacked or some of its employees have deliberately participated in these activities.

The company also told “FIFA” fans that user accounts that were specifically given FUT items are in a small number only. However, EA still promised to pursue a full investigation that could lead to actions against employees involved and permanent bans to users who will be found to have received FUT items in this manner.

When does EA give away FUT items to specific users?

Meanwhile, EA clarifies that there specific circumstances where FUT items are handed out to specific accounts outside of microtransactions and the in-game Trade Market. The publisher cited three cases, including compensating players who faced technical issues and lost in-game content. EA may also grant FUT items to certain users for testing and quality verification purposes.

Lastly, the publisher also hands out these sought-after goods to “athletes, partners, and employees,” but not to gaming-focused internet personalities. “The items granted on a discretionary basis to these partners or employees are always non-tradeable and can be used only by the account to which they were originally granted,” EA added.