The next level: Inside EA SPORTS FC 26's upgrades

GAMING NEWS AlexP - Sep 12, 2025, 10:30 AM - 47 comments

Football enthusiasts are in for a treat with the latest entry in the series, EA SPORTS FC 26, which builds on its predecessor's foundation by incorporating extensive community feedback for a more immersive and responsive simulation. The game boasts over 20,000 licensed players, more than 750 clubs and national teams, and upwards of 35 leagues spanning men's and women's football, including exclusive partnerships with major competitions like UEFA events and continental cups. Enhanced realism shines through dynamic animations, instant replays capturing real-world moments, and overhauled AI that makes every match feel unpredictable and authentic.

Adding star power to the package, the cover athletes feature generational talents Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid and Jamal Musiala from Bayern Munich on the standard edition, symbolizing the blend of youth and rivalry that defines modern football. The Ultimate Edition spotlights Swedish icon Zlatan Ibrahimović, paying homage to legendary flair and longevity in the sport. These choices reflect the game's emphasis on celebrating both emerging stars and timeless legends, drawing fans deeper into the virtual pitch.

Core mechanics evolved from FC 25

When stacking up against EA SPORTS FC 25, the new title introduces significant mechanical upgrades that address fan critiques and refine core gameplay. Dribbling feels smoother and more fluid, with responsive controls that reduce the clunkiness seen in the prior version, allowing for precise maneuvers even under pressure. Passing has been overhauled for greater accuracy, curbing overpowered first-time through balls while introducing one-frame precision to reward skillful play.

Defending emphasizes manual tactics, minimizing random deflections and rebounds that frustrated players in FC 25, making successful tackles more satisfying. Shooting mechanics strike a better balance, with keepers now exhibiting smarter positioning and deflection handling, though inconsistencies remain for added realism. New gameplay presets—Competitive for fast-paced online matches and Authentic for simulation-style depth—cater to different preferences, unlike the one-size-fits-all approach of the previous game.

AI improvements ensure balanced pacing, where high-speed attackers aren't easily neutralized, and teammates make intelligent runs, fixing the static positioning issues from before. Archetypes allow customization inspired by football greats, while updated PlayStyles+ like Precision Header and Inventive+ replace removed ones such as Trivela and Flair, streamlining abilities for strategic depth. Career Mode gains Manager Live Challenges for dynamic narratives, reducing menu navigation in favor of on-pitch action, a welcome shift from FC 25's more static progression. Ultimate Team evolves with live events and tournaments, fostering competition without the grind. Overall, these refinements position EA SPORTS FC 26 as a more enjoyable and refined experience, potentially outshining its predecessor in engagement and fun. Find the best prices for EA SPORTS FC 26 using our price comparison tool.

Amika

Sep 30, 2025, 1:58 PM

In a franchise that doesn't change much from year to year, EA Sports FC 26 takes this to the extreme. Although it is the best football game on the market by default and competing at the highest level of Ultimate Team remains enjoyable, we were hoping for a more revolutionary entry.

Cabilau

Oct 6, 2025, 2:05 AM on dlcompare.pt

EA SPORTS FC 26 brings a few additions in terms of accessibility options, giving players the choice between authentic and competitive presets. Authentic offers a more realistic experience in terms of player behavior, responsiveness and positioning, while Competitive preset is a more streamlined option with multiplayer modes like Ultimate Team and Clubs in mind, facilitating control, passing and the general pace of the game. I'd recommend waiting for release and the user reviews.

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PaLo

Oct 4, 2025, 2:14 PM on dlcompare.es

It is incomprehensible that the same game comes out every year and still has performance issues. One of the worst FIFA editions ever created. Honestly, this game is beyond saving and there is no other game that can compete with those who enjoy playing offline. With every patch we are getting worse and new problems are coming out. So if you are thinking of buying it, I do not recommend it because it is money wasted.

moskauu

Oct 3, 2025, 8:41 AM on dlcompare.es

The same thing for years. The worst thing is the gradual loss of licenses for several games and EA does nothing to recover them or get new licenses. And the new leagues they add are leagues that (honestly) most people are not interested in. Less and less national teams. They should offer more options to edit or even create teams, leagues and even stadiums. Every game that comes out is basically an update of the previous one but with loss of licenses. An editor would be useful and even necessary.

danramy92

Oct 1, 2025, 3:24 PM on dlcompare.fr

Quite similar to its predecessor, with few changes, but the career mode has been improved, and I can't say the same for the ultimate team mode, but on the whole it's okay.

Nachos

Sep 30, 2025, 11:22 AM on dlcompare.fr

The changes made to the dribbling/passing system are interesting, but with an AI that remains too passive in defense, the game remains extremely attack-oriented. Despite some minor performance problems, the title is still visually stunning. The menus and interface could have done with some tweaking. They are identical to those of previous games. The additions to the career mode are interesting, but remain secondary. The game lacks any real innovation...

Gamer2021

Sep 29, 2025, 9:56 PM on dlcompare.fr

FC 26 to a more realistic and arcade/competitive approach. On paper, it has potential, and certain technical and gameplay aspects are clearly better polished than in previous versions. But the launch seems marred by serious bugs, activation problems and legitimate criticism of microtransactions. On PC, it's best to wait for a few patches before the experience is more stable.

68daaa698f25c_gonzalo

Sep 29, 2025, 6:00 PM on dlcompare.es

The gameplay of FC 26 represents a technical refinement that seeks to balance soccer simulation with accessibility for players of all levels. From the first game, you can perceive an evolution in the pace of the game: slower, more tactical, with transitions that favor construction from the midfield and penalize the abuse of sprinting. The defensive artificial intelligence has been significantly improved, with central defenders who anticipate movements, close spaces and position themselves with greater coherence, forcing the player to think about each pass and each clearance.

FisheyePlacebo

Sep 29, 2025, 4:50 PM on dlcompare.fr

Highly-anticipated by fans of the license, with many promises, notably in terms of game modes, player creation and the archetype system, and in terms of RPG skills/stats. Improved AI to make matches even more realistic. All that's left now is to see how it all plays out, and to see if feedback is needed to fine-tune the opus!

gennyshark

Oct 2, 2025, 3:55 PM

Perhaps the most exciting news for longtime fans is the extensive list of football legends who will be added to the game as ICONS. FC 26 brings back some of the sport's most revered names, making nostalgia a key component of the gameplay experience. Heading the list is Zlatan Ibrahimović. Known for his flamboyant personality, acrobatic goals, and storied career in Europe's top leagues, Zlatan's return as an icon is monumental