EA "unintentionally released" FIFA 22 OTW pre-order player packs before OTW player items were in the game Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. EA "unintentionally released" FIFA 22 OTW pre-order player packs before OTW player items were in the game Promises to make good. News by Wesley Yin-Poole Deputy Editorial Director Updated on 1 Oct 2021 7 comments EA "unintentionally released" FIFA 22 OTW pre-order player packs before OTW player items were in the game, it's said. This Ultimate Team-focused pre-order bonus relates to coveted Ones to Watch cards - special versions of players who made high-profile summer transfers. Examples this year include Lionel Messi, who moved from Barcelona to PSG, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Juventus for Manchester United. Watch on YouTube These OTW cards see in-game players upgraded based on real-life performances. Each Wednesday, EA releases a Team of the Week squad that contains players who stood out in their leagues the previous weekend. If an OTW player appears in that squad, their card is upgraded to match the Team of the Week version's upgraded stats. Lionel Messi's OTW card. EA released the OTW pre-order player packs with a warning not to open them until today, 1st October - FIFA 22's global release date - but of course many players did open the pack, and received a regular gold card instead of the expected OTW card. This sparked something of a panic within the FIFA community, with some worrying they had missed out on their OTW card for good. Now, EA has come out and said this was a mistake, and has prevented OTW pre-order packs from being opened while it investigates. And here's the crucial news: those who opened their pack prior to OTW release will get a new OTW pack "in the coming days". "OTW pre-Order player packs were unintentionally released prior to OTW player items being in FIFA 22," EA said. OTW pre-order packs currently can't be opened while we investigate the issue. Players who opened their pack prior to OTW release will receive a new OTW pack in the coming days." FUT is now in the odd situation of having dished out a "free" gold card to players who opened their OTW pack early, a card those who waited will not receive. But it's hardly the end of the world. EA has yet to say when exactly those who opened their OTW pack early will get their replacement. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 4 Atari will hold RollerCoaster Tycoon rights for another decade Ups and downs. 7 Lady Dimitrescu will be a tad smaller in Resident Evil Village's Mercenaries DLC Level the playing field. 1 Overwatch 2 suffers another DDoS attack and character roster bugs Mei Mei. 13 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090: a new level in graphics performance The Digital Foundry video review - and how the new GPU champion delivers for 4K 120fps gaming. Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 4 Feature Evercore Heroes wants to wind people up the right way "There's less rage at them, because they didn't end your fun." Genshin Impact Path of Gleaming Jade dates, login event rewards Including other anniversary rewards and how to claim them. Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store