In a bold move, EA Vancouver openly acknowledges that their earlier game fell short of the target with EA Sports FC 26. This admission signifies that they’ve listened carefully to the community’s feedback and made substantial improvements in this year’s edition. Unlike previous EA Sports soccer games that emphasized select standout features, FC 26 appears to be a comprehensive revamp, which for fans, promises an exhilarating experience.
We had the opportunity to visit EA Vancouver for a sneak peek at what’s new in EA Sports FC 26, learning about the updates the studio is implementing, and even getting a chance to try out some of the gameplay. Although specific details about modes such as Ultimate Team and Career will be revealed later, I can offer my initial thoughts on the feel of EA Sports FC 26. In essence, this year’s version appears to be faster-paced, with a speed of play that demands quicker decision-making skills and AI that more closely mimics real-life teammates.
In other words, it’s not implying that opponents in EA Sports FC 26 won’t occasionally make doubtful moves, but the competition level seems to be closer to reality than ever before. The moment you receive a pass, you can almost feel the pressure, and if your opponent gets to the ball first, positioning becomes challenging. Moreover, the goalkeeper will make saves that seem less like guesswork and more like how a real-life keeper would react. Essentially, many of the unpredictable aspects of previous games have been redesigned, providing an experience where your team feels like a well-oiled machine, while opponents no longer feel like easy targets.
FC 26’s Authentic and Competitive Presets Will Offer Players Different Play Styles
an authentic one and a competitive one. The authentic part will be visible in offline games such as Kickoff and Career, whereas the competitive aspect has been fine-tuned for online play like Ultimate Team and Clubs.
As a movie buff diving into this game, I’d say the authentic experience feels like an old-school, methodically-paced flick where the AI teammates add a touch of randomness to the plot. It’s all about strategy and realism, but with the occasional unexpected twist that keeps you on your toes.
On the other hand, competitive gameplay is more like a fast-paced action movie. Here, I’ve got more control over the narrative, making it quicker and more responsive. While there’s less room for those unpredictable plot twists, like a goalkeeper miraculously deflecting a shot back at my opponent, I can rely on a smoother, more predictable flow of events to strategize my defense effectively.
In my personal perspective as a movie reviewer, I didn’t get enough playtime with both Authentic and Competitive modes during the preview, so a comprehensive review will have to wait until a later date. However, from the brief time I spent with it, the gameplay felt authentic to the soccer experience we all know and love.
The dribbling felt more responsive and precise, the animations were smooth and tailored to each player’s skill level, one-time passes found their mark more frequently, goalkeepers showed smart positioning, and the return of the low-driven shot made scoring goals a truly satisfying experience.
It’s really remarkable how thoroughly EA Vancouver has paid attention to every detail in FC 26.
Perhaps the standout feature was the skillfully designed player animations and interactions, enhancing defensive players’ ability to block opponents effectively and giving stronger attackers the power to evade their defenders. The challenge of handling player collisions in FC has traditionally been a complex issue, but it seems like EA Vancouver has struck a good balance here. The interactions might not always mirror reality, but they provide a level playing field.
In the whirlwind of focus on numerous aspects of EA Sports FC 26, it’s almost dizzying. After spending countless hours in the studio with developers discussing as many updates as possible – and there was still so much more to discuss – one thing stands out: the team has been listening. Each change or enhancement is driven by community feedback, making it an energizing process for the developers to bring about. Admitting that a previous version didn’t live up to expectations must have been humbling for EA Vancouver, but opening up this line of dialogue has also been liberating. This communication channel should lead to a more rewarding gaming experience for players, even if it doesn’t boast those eye-catching, marketing features on the box.
In this new EA Sports game, there are numerous changes across various aspects, not limited to dribbling, movement, shooting, tackling, goalkeepers, presentation, menus, accessibility, and archetypes. The improvements are so extensive that it’s challenging to pinpoint a single element to describe. In fact, it seems like an understatement to list just one feature, as the entire game is jam-packed with innovations. I find myself eager to return to the studio for another day of exploration and play.
Starting from September 19, 2025, EA Sports FC Early Access will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The full game is set to launch on September 26.
Game Rant was provided travel accommodations for this preview.
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2025-07-22 19:11