Farming Simulator 22, not content with being a superb zen-like agricultural sim, is gradually transitioning into a full-on competitive eSport as well. For those of you who haven’t been following the Giants Software favourite, the Farming Simulator League is already in its fifth season – and now new competitive multiplayer modes have been added to the PS5 and PS4 versions for free.

There are two modes to try out: the amusing Bale Stacking and the much more tactical Arena. The former, a six player mode, doesn’t take a genius to understand: you’ll be tasked with “stacking square bales of straw on a trailer while a timer” counts down. It’s high pressure stuff: one wrong move and your stack could come tumbling down.

Arena, though, is the deeper and more strategic of the two options: “Two teams, consisting of up to three players each, compete for the high score by harvesting wheat, pressing bales, and delivering them to their barn. Additional layers of tactical gameplay are ensured through a Pick and Ban phase, randomised power-ups, and multiple strategic approaches possible.”

Fascinatingly, if you’re worried about coming up against agricultural experts, there’s a training mode also available for Arena, which you can try out on your own. Both of these options are available now for free in the console versions of the game, so check them out if you own a copy. Do you reckon these new modes will grow on you? Let us know in the comments section below.

[source youtube.com]