The game contains 78 stadiums, including 50 real-world venues.[2] Fratton Park, home of Portsmouth, was added to honour Portsmouth fan Simon Humber, creative director of the FIFA series, who died of cancer in 2015.[3]

A new Training Mode was also added to Career Mode allowing the player to develop footballers in the team of which they are managing without actually playing them.[4] These are in the form of skill games, a feature first added to the series in EA Sports' 2014 World Cup official game. It allows the player to set a specific focus on which the footballer should develop on meaning that he will grow specifically according to the chosen focus attribute. Doing this also increases the transfer value of the player.[5]

Improvements were also made upon the FIFA Ultimate Team. Changes were made to the FIFA Ultimate Team interface, including pack management, the transfer market, squad chemistry, consumables, and swapping players.[6] Along with these interface changes, there were substantial gameplay updates introduced, including FIFA Ultimate Team Draft, in which players are given a choice of five random players for each position, and then pitting their newly made team against others on a tournament-style format.[7] Another addition made to the Ultimate Team game mode, for Xbox players was the expansion of FIFA Ultimate Team Legends players to include iconic and historic names such as George Best, Ryan Giggs, Deco, Vítor Baía and Alessandro Nesta.[8]

New friendly enhancements were added to the mode with players now able to pick a friendly tournament before a season starts. Winning these friendly tournaments gives the player a reward in the form of a transfer budget boost. Also, unlimited substitutions are permitted when playing these friendly games. Other features include two-year loans, many realistic transfer budget enhancements and improved player values.[9]

New features that are exclusive to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC versions of the game involve a licensed presentation package for the Bundesliga, new weather and kick-off time variations, and the use of vanishing spray during certain matches.[10] Downloadable content is available using a point system.[11]

In addition to Tyler and Smith, commentary is once again provided by Alan McInally (in-game score updates), Geoff Shreeves (injury reports), and Mike West (Classified results for major leagues). Spanish and French commentary is also provided. Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend do not reprise their roles for international tournament play-calling, but return in FIFA 17 for World Cup and Euro Qualifier matches.[12]

The Brasileirão wasn't included in FIFA 16 due to licensing issues. Instead, a handful of Brazilian teams were implemented into the ‘Rest of World’ section. New goal celebrations featured include Lionel Messi’s ‘1, 2, 3 hat-trick’ celebration – he looks into the camera while making the gesture, Tim Cahill’s ‘Timber’, and Olivier Giroud’s ‘Glamour slide’.[13][14]