{{Short description|Upcoming football simulation video game}} {{About|the upcoming free-to-play video game|the 1989 NES video game|Goal! (video game)|the 1993 game|Dino Dini's Goal}} {{Infobox video game | title = Goals | image = GOALS_Logo.png | caption = | developer = Goals AB | publisher = Goals AB | designer = Frans Perers | platforms = {{Ubl|[[macOS]]|[[PlayStation 5]]|[[Windows]]|[[Xbox Series X/S]]}} | released = | genre = [[Sports game|Sports]] | modes = [[Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]] | engine = [[Unreal Engine 5]] }} '''''Goals''''' (stylized as '''''GOALS''''') is an upcoming [[Association football|football]] [[video game]] developed & published by Goals AB. Conceptualized by [[Andreas Thorstensson]], ''Goals'' will follow a free-to-play business model with a focus on [[esports]] viability. First announced on July 22, 2021, the game is intended to compete with the ''[[FIFA (video game series)|FIFA]]'' & ''[[eFootball]]'' series of video games, with a focus on responsiveness over fidelity. The game will feature [[cross-platform play]], for [[macOS]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Windows]] and [[Xbox Series X and Series S]] platforms. ''Goals'' entered its [[Software release life cycle#Beta|open beta]] period on March 13, 2026.
==Gameplay== ''Goals'' places players on [[football pitch]]es at different arenas, with game modes of 1v1 & 5v5. A practice mode called "The Arena" may be accessed, allowing for testing player avatars & features.<ref name = PrimaPreview>{{cite web | last = Anthony | first = Ashley | url = https://primagames.com/tips/separates-goals-other-football-games | title = What Separates GOALS From Other Football Games? – Answered | date = January 18, 2023 | publisher = [[Prima Games]] | access-date = February 28, 2024}}</ref>
==Development== Swedish gamer & programmer [[Andreas Thorstensson]] was one of the earliest professional ''[[Counter-Strike (video game)|Counter-Strike]]'' players, with his career beginning shortly after the release of the game in 1999. As a player, executive and owner of the German & Swedish organization Schroet Kommando, which became [[SK Gaming]], he led it to become one of the most prolific in the scene, before retiring in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sk-gaming.com/content/27621-bds_seeks_new_challenges|title=bds Seeks New Challenges|date=July 12, 2009|access-date=December 17, 2010|last=Shields|first=Duncan|publisher=[[SK Gaming]]|archive-date=February 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225231211/http://www.sk-gaming.com/content/27621-bds_seeks_new_challenges|url-status=dead}}</ref> After several web development & entrepreneurship ventures over the subsequent decade, Thorstensson teased ''Goals'' as his new venture, before formally announcing it as a football video game on August 18, 2021. Thorstensson detailed his intention to develop an [[esports]]-ready [[AAA (video game industry)|AAA]] cross-platform multiplayer game that would reward players.<ref>{{cite web | last = Fitch | first = Adam | url = https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/goals-football-game-announced-1633622/ | title = FIFA and eFootball competitor GOALS announced by SK Gaming founder | date = August 18, 2021 | publisher = [[Dexerto]] | access-date = August 18, 2021}}</ref>
The game would be built using [[Unreal Engine 5]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Monteiro | first = Rafael | url = https://www.techtudo.com.br/noticias/2022/06/conheca-goals-jogo-de-futebol-que-sera-rival-gratuito-de-fifa-e-efootball.ghtml | title = Conheça Goals, jogo de futebol que será rival gratuito de FIFA e eFootball | date = June 28, 2022 | publisher = [[Grupo Globo]] | access-date = February 28, 2024}}</ref> An objective outlined by Thorstensson from the onset was to give audiences access to ''Goals'' during its early days, allowing for the team to gauge feedback and combat bugs before release.<ref>{{cite web | last = Craven | first = Joe | url = https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/goals-dev-reveals-plans-to-launch-a-basic-and-poor-version-of-the-game-1895517/ | title = GOALS dev reveals plans to launch a "basic" and "poor" version of the game | date = August 7, 2022 | publisher = [[Dexerto]] | access-date = February 28, 2024}}</ref> [[Early access]] testing for ''Goals'' began with a single-player demo called the "Arena" in September 2022, with rudimentary functionality implemented. The following February, multiplayer access on a [[football pitch]] setting began.<ref name = First2Tests>{{cite web | author = Shubh | url = https://www.fragster.com/stockholm-based-goals-recieves-20m-series-a-funding-for-the-hyped-soccer-game/ | title = Stockholm-based GOALS {{as written|rec|ieves [sic]}} $20M Series A funding for the hyped soccer game | date = April 19, 2023 | publisher = Fragster | access-date = February 28, 2024}}</ref>
In April 2022, Goals AB was announced to have raised $15 million in [[seed money|seed funding]], led by [[venture capitalist]] firm Northzone.<ref name = "Nairametrics">{{cite web | last = Akamo | first = Ajibola | url = https://nairametrics.com/2022/04/05/blockchain-gaming-getting-more-vc-attention-as-goals-announces-15-million-seed-funding/ | title = Blockchain gaming getting more VC attention as GOALS announces $15 million seed funding | date = April 5, 2022 | publisher = [[Nairametrics]] | access-date = February 28, 2024}}</ref> In April 2023, ''Goals'' received an additional $20 million in funding - led by [[Reddit]] founder [[Alexis Ohanian]]’s venture capital firm Seven Seven Six and supported by Northzone, Moonfire, Cassius and angel investors Peter Sellis, Wayne Mackey, [[Riqui Puig]] and [[Clément Lenglet]] - bringing the total funding to $39 million.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattgardner1/2023/04/19/goals-secures-20-million-to-give-football-the-game-it-deserves/?sh=31d26a8f54c2 | title = GOALS Secures $20 Million To Give Football Esports 'The Game It Deserves' | first = Matt | last = Gardner | date = April 19, 2023 | website = [[Forbes]] | access-date = April 21, 2023 }}</ref> In July 2023, GOALS AB's board was bolstered by the arrivals of Ebba Ljungerud and Oskar Gabrielson, the former chief executive officers of [[Paradox Interactive]] & and [[DICE (company)|DICE]], respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://esportsinsider.com/2023/07/goals-board-appointments | title = GOALS appoints former Paradox and DICE executives to Board | first = Ivan | last = Šimić | date = July 5, 2023 | website = Esports Insider | access-date = February 28, 2024 }}</ref>
== Release == Following closed tests and controlled access periods, ''Goals'' began its open beta period on March 13, 2026.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.operationsports.com/new-soccer-game-goals-enters-open-beta-on-march-13/ | title = New Soccer Game GOALS Enters Open Beta on March 13 | first = Burair | last = Noor | date = March 4, 2026 | website = Operation Sports | access-date = March 23, 2026 }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://playgoals.com/}}
{{Portal bar|Sweden|Video games}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Association football video games]] [[Category:Early access video games]] [[Category:Esports games]] [[Category:Free-to-play video games]] [[Category:Indie games]] [[Category:MacOS games]] [[Category:PlayStation 5 games]] [[Category:Unreal Engine 5 games]] [[Category:Upcoming video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in Sweden]] [[Category:Video games with cross-platform play]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Xbox Series X and Series S games]]