UFL August 26 patch notes: New game modes, revised tackle mechanics, AI improvements, more

On August 26, 2024, Strikerz released the UFL 0.56 patch for a Common Test, a period for players to check and try out the new features and updates before its official launch.

The UFL 0.56 patch update includes three new game modes: Training Room, Friendly Matches against AI, and Quick Match. This will give you more options to warm up and get a hold of the game mechanics before jumping into competitive matches, unlike the open betas earlier in 2024.

Coming to other changes, the addition of Super Cancel is a highlight. You can activate it by pressing LT and RT and comes in handy during passes and shots. Apart from that, there are multiple AI enhancements and other quality-of-life changes to improve gameplay. You can find the full UFL patch notes below.

Full UFL update v0.56 patch notes

New Game Modes

• Added Training Room mode: an arena where you can familiarize yourself with the game mechanics
• Added Friendly Match mode:
  • you can play against an AI opponent
  • you can play with a friend on the same console
• Added Quick match mode:
  • you can play with a random opponent without affecting your statistics and rating
  • you can play with a friend by providing them with a match join code

Gameplay

• Added Super Cancel during passes and shots (Activated by pressing the LT+RT buttons simultaneously)
• Reworked through passes, passes into the penalty area, crosses, low crosses, and pass targets
• Added Idle animations for players waiting to take a penalty, removed synchronous playback of animations
• Revised the active tackle mechanic:
  • added new animations
  • allowed tackles from behind
  • revised the strength and direction of the ball rebound when tackled
• Revised the goal celebration mechanic: teammates and the goalscorer now run around opponents
• Added the ability to make up to 5 substitutions in a match
• Fixed an issue where the passive tackle would trigger first, followed immediately by the active tackle
• Fixed an issue where the wall would move in the opposite direction to the one requested by the user
• Improved facial animations
• Goalkeeper:
  • Adjusted the correct direction of the deflection after goalkeeper’s saves
  • Improved current animations and added new animations
• Fixed an issue where the player could not put the ball into play from a set piece
• Improved ball control in dribbling
• Fixed an issue where the player would fly into the air upon physical contact
• Fixed an issue with incorrect player animation during aerial combat

AI

• Defensive behavior:
  • Completely reworked the logic of team pressing when using the defensive styles “Constant Pressing”, “Press After Possession Loss” and “Press on Unsuccessful Touch”:
    • New logic for determining targets and their subsequent distribution among players for maximum effective pressing
    • Depending on the situation, players in pressing are positioned to intercept a potential pass or to prevent the opponent from advancing towards their goal
    • Team pressing now works throughout the pitch, not just in the opponent’s half
  • Added additional cover in defense when man-marking a player with the ball. If the current marker falls behind the opponent and is below the ball line, another player who is in front of the opponent with the ball will come to his aid
  • Defensive line players will stay closer to each other in their half
• Attacking behavior:
  • Attacking runs
    • Revised the conditions under which players make runs behind defenders. Now players will only make them if they are in the line of sight of the player with the ball and he can physically pass to them
    • Players have better awareness of each other’s positions on the pitch and will no longer make attacking runs into the areas of another position or “cross” with each other
  • Positioning for a pass
    • Improved overall player positioning depending on the actions and direction of movement of the player with the ball
    • In fast attacks, central midfielders will primarily try to move forward, while in slow attacks they will slightly drop down to help advance the ball
    • Flank players will try to open up for a pass only within their flank, maintaining width and not drifting into the center
• Set pieces:
  • Reworked the conditions for completing set pieces. Now the transitions between a set piece and play will be smoother
  • Improved attacking behavior of players on corners and free kicks
• In case of a dangerous situation, such as an interception or contested ball, and until it is resolved one way or another, attacking players will act more passively (not moving forward, stopping current runs, etc.)
• Fixed an issue where the referee was positioned directly in front of the ball on a free kick in the center of the pitch
• After rushing out, the goalkeeper tries to return to his goal as quickly as possible (previously, he was backing away)
• Fixed a situation where the players ran out of their penalty area after the goalkeeper saved a penalty
• After a penalty or free kick, players no longer get stuck in idles, but instead quickly engage in their mechanics and do not repeat the same reactions
• Players leave the wall immediately after a free kick and are assigned the appropriate game AI mechanics

Audio and Visual

• Connected commentator events to the “Free Kick” cut-scenes
• Added commentator event sounds to “Seasons”
• Added city sounds to city stadiums, such as car horns
• Changed the sound of the ball hitting the net and the post/crossbar
• Improved the animation of player interaction in cutscenes
• Temporarily disabled foul replay
• Added replay of a dangerous moment in the highlights
• Improved ball display in replays
• Added sweat effect on players
• Improved the appearance of 11 players
  • Dušan Vlahović
  • Micky van de Ven
  • Levi Lаmar Samuels Colwill
  • Warren Zaïre-Emery
  • Enzo Jeremías Fernández
  • Daniel Olmo Carvajal
  • Moisés Isaac Caicedo Corozo
  • Pedro Neto
  • Manuel Ugarte Ribeiro
  • Nicholas Williams Arthuer
  • Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana
• Updated 350 player photos
• Fixed a bug with the jersey penetrating the player’s texture

Other Changes

• Added a tab to Match Result showing the progress of players’ leveling up and Skill Points earned;
  • User can open the footballer’s profile from the squad
  • Skill Points can be spent directly from this screen
• Tutorial windows have been added to all meta gameplay mechanics on the first visit
• Added tooltips for working with skills
• Added new markers to notify users of changes
• Changed the bulk purchase mechanic for skin packs, now you can select the number of skin packs directly on the store screen
• Improved UI mechanics:
  • skip skin pack opening
  • buying/selling footballers via the radial menu
  • displaying interaction with skins and skin sets in the Squad section
• Fixed several UI bugs