EA uses real statistical performance data from the sports analytics company Opta to assign each footballer in EA Sports FC a set of unique in-game abilities called PlayStyles. Rather than relying solely on a player's overall numerical rating, the system reflects what each athlete actually does on a real pitch.

Introduced in EA Sports FC 24, PlayStyles give players specific in-game capabilities tied to Opta statistical performance data — for example, a striker with a high shot-power stat in real life receives the "Power Shot" PlayStyle. PlayStyles+ mark signature abilities at the elite tier. The system covers 19,000+ footballers. This approach represents a shift from traditional manual attribute assignment by EA producers toward data pipeline–driven attribute generation.