Abandon that off-parroted line about FC 26 being “the identical recreation as final yr”. Three years into the post-FIFA period, the EA Sports activities juggernaut now gives a pair of contrasting experiences, relying on whether or not you play on-line or off. For Final Staff, the soccer stalwart is prioritising competitiveness. Matches are fast-paced and skill-focussed, with some components of realism – comparable to human participant fatigue – executed away with. In profession mode, nonetheless, simulation involves the fore. Fixtures develop at a cerebral tempo, your whole workforce tiring as the ultimate whistle approaches.
We have extensively sampled each gameplay varieties throughout a two day hands-on and, as an old-school gamer weaned on Professional Evolution Soccer, got here away preferring the sim fashion for now. EA’s focus this yr could be summarizsed as somewhat bit Blink 182: all of the small issues. FC 26’s delicately applied tweaks actually come to the fore by that slowed-down, offline format.
Key data
Developer: EA Vancouver
Writer: EA
Platform(s): PS5, PS4, Xbox Sequence X, Xbox One, Change 2, PC
Launch date: September 26, 2025
Dribbling is tremendous tight, enabling virtually imperceptible adjustments of route. High-tier gamers will enjoy maximizing their right-stick talents, whereas novices can use timing – moderately than stick ability – to show a too-tight defender. In the meantime, forwards extra prone to maintain off a CB than spin them profit from enhanced physicality. Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak actively transfer a step or two away from the ball to protect it from gigantic centre-backs. Low pushed photographs return, and really feel additional snappy once you discover the underside nook – though that’s noticeably more durable, because of reworked keepers. New animations see goalies attempt to tip the ball extensive or over moderately than again into play, decreasing the prevalence of sweaty rebound tap-ins.
Should you’re pondering ‘these sound just like the fundamentals; what is the huge gimmick?’, you are not alone. Probably the most encouraging side of FC 26 is the obtrusive lack of a giant gimmick. As an alternative, EA Vancouver has spent 12 months drilling into person suggestions, and trying to enhance upon EA FC 25 utilizing particular fan recommendations.
“The gameplay fundamentals – the passing, the dribbling, the taking pictures, the goalkeeper – that was the [most common] suggestions we acquired, so we simply focussed on [those areas]: ‘Let’s take what we’ve, and refine it and polish it,'” says gameplay director Kantcho Doskov. “The mix of these issues makes the gameplay higher. Extra responsive, extra constant, with gamers shifting as you anticipate, and passing sooner.”
Change of tempo
The shift from FC 25 is felt in granular enhancements throughout each gameplay types. In addition to being re-animated, keepers are extra clever basically, significantly in one-on-one situations: narrowing angles, and really spreading their our bodies. We see some photographs denied by hand, others with the toe of an outstretched foot. A refined masterstroke is the HUD addition beneath a participant’s identify, denoting their foot desire and skill-move score. Having this key intel onscreen moderately than buried underneath menus immediately impacts gameplay – as an example, prompting you to chop inside onto your stronger foot with an inverted winger or full-back. It is a deft but triumphant tweak.
Intriguingly, EA is so dedicated to enhancing gameplay, it is intentionally including in some graphical clipping. ‘Tacklebacks’ are a FC 25 difficulty the place you time your problem accurately and may win the ball, however the engine deflects it to an opponent’s workforce–mate. Or, even worse, lets the tackled participant preserve possession, as a result of your leg must clip ‘by’ an opponent to realize the ball. In FC 26, that is precisely what happens, and it is a key component to creating certain defending is as satisfying as all these attacking enhancements.
It is all the time a steadiness on the defensive facet.
“It is all the time a steadiness on the defensive facet,” admits Doskov. “The dribbling is ultra-responsive now – however [the] jockey [mechanic] is as nicely. When a sort out happens, if it is nicely timed, we have made certain the tackler will win the ball again. The clipping… it’s what it’s, but it surely makes the sport honest and feels proper.”
The FC 25 meta has pulled this collection away from objectives created by crosses, however traditionally it has been my most well-liked attacking methodology – so we will not resist asking gameplay producer Thomas Caleffi whether or not it’s going to return as a viable strategy. His reply is optimistic. “[We’ve worked on headers], significantly in genuine mode,” says the passionate Brazilian. “We attempt to get the real-world success charges [and incorporate them]: what number of headers are scored within the Premier League, crossing percentages, and dialog charges. It is tough to do in aggressive [mode] – however in genuine mode, it ought to match actual life now.”
Lights, digital camera, motion
Presentation fiends could wince on the deliberate inclusion of clipping, however they’ve a lot to take pleasure in elsewhere. School Soccer 26‘s intros, mascots, and stadiums showcase the diploma to which sports activities avid gamers love particulars, and FC 26 follows swimsuit with myriad beauty tweaks. Discover the online and a recent overlay exhibits the scorer’s photographs and purpose rely for the present recreation, whereas scene-setting build-up contains extra stadium facades – even Watford’s Vicarage Street – and fan zones away from the host membership. Oh, and coppers on horseback. Cool! Lighting can be much less saturated, including to the ambiance but in addition making matches simpler on the attention.
“Gameplay is all the time going to be an important factor, however presentation is the wrapper that unifies the whole lot,” says artistic director Fab Muoio. “With all of the licensing and partnerships we’ve, the one solution to actually have fun that’s by creating superb immersive experiences.” Cleverly, that even contains the choice to combine and match commentators, do you have to benefit from the dulcet Scot tones of Derek Rae, however favor to pair them with Scouse ball of vitality Sue Smith over the extra dour Stewart Robson.
We’re excited to place these voice combos to the check, alongside different new additions. Equivalent to first-time passes, the place you’ll be able to depart your button press to the final doable second, moderately than it being ‘queued’. Or eight new set-piece assignments, together with throws-in takers on both facet of the pitch. Or the supervisor market in profession mode, with hirings and firings (and job openings!) tracked in an simply digestible hub. Or Rush, the place Rae is now a solo commentary choice, ought to Fernando Palomo’s bombastic fashion be somewhat too in-your-face. Or, or, or… so many ors, intertwined with some fascinating questions. All of which needs to be answered in GR+’s September assessment.
