EA has stated that some of its employees may have been selling FIFA 21 items for players for money.
Last week, the publisher launched an investigation into illegal real-money ‘content delivery’ in FIFA’s Ultimate Team (FUT) after screenshots shared online appeared to be shows EA employees who offered to sell rare player cards for sums between $ 1200 and $ 2000.
EA acknowledged the allegations were troubling, and promised to “launch a full investigation. “Now, just a few days later, the company had found some evidence that“ one or more EA accounts, which were either compromised or improperly used by someone within EA, with direct rights to these individual accounts. “
“Our initial investigation shows questionable activity involving a very small number of accounts and items. Although it is not a large number, if these allegations prove, it cannot be accepted. this activity, “the company said in a statement. “We want to thank our committed community members for bringing the matter to our attention so quickly. “
Although EA intends to complete their investigation before taking action, they have promised to prosecute any employee sold. FIFA 21 items for players, and will permanently ban any player who is known to have purchased cards from his staff. The objects themselves will be extracted from the FUT ecosystem.
In the meantime, the company has banned all optional content that it provides for an indefinite period of time – with the system implemented to allow staff members provide content for legitimate methods such as testing, marketing, and resolving customer experience issues.
“Whatever these actions are, we understand how anxious this is for all our players, and we are sorry for the impact of these inappropriate contributions in the community. We also understand how appalling and frustrating it is that this practice could have come from within. EA, ”the company continued.
“We are angry too. We know that the trust of our communities is hard earned, and it is based on the principles of Fair Play. This illegal activity shakes that trust. We have also been clear since the Final Team was built that builds things we can’t exchange outside of our game, and that ‘s fundamental to how we keep our game safe from manipulation and bad actors. that too – and we will not let it stand. “