EA Sports FC 26 has finally arrived, but the football gaming community remains skeptical after FC 25’s widely criticized performance. FC 25 started out as one of the best entries to the series in years, but the gameplay was slowly eroded by UT adjustments that led to midfielders not tracking back, and headers bordering on useless, leaving many players questioning EA’s commitment to meaningful improvements.
With FC 26, players are eager to know what’s really new. After FC 25, many players want more, and EA is promising big changes. But is it a true game-changer or just another yearly update?
In this article, we’ll explore what actually changed between FC 26 and FC 25, examining whether the improvements justify another purchase or if skeptical players should keep their wallets closed.
Economy Changes
FC 26 introduces many changes to how you manage your Ultimate Team currency, with FC Coins remaining the primary in-game currency but distributed differently than before. In previous FUT games, if you obtained the Ultimate Edition, points were immediately awarded upon starting Ultimate Team, totaling only 4,600.
However, in this year’s FC 26, the 6,000 points will be distributed over three phases: September 19th, after the Early Access launch: 2,000 points. October 31st, Halloween: 2,000 points. November 30th: 2,000 points.
FC 26’s slower power curve means quality Rare Golds stay meta for longer. A strong coin balance lets you react to the market and secure key players without gambling on packs. The game’s economy has been rebalanced to slow down player progression, meaning Squads will generally be slightly lower-rated at the same point compared to FC 25, and weekly campaign drops will feature smaller attribute boosts on average.
Gameplay Mechanics Overhaul
The biggest gameplay change separates FC 26 into two distinct experiences that fundamentally alter how the game feels. Competitive Gameplay is tuned for added responsiveness and higher player control, mainly focused on online modes like Ultimate Team and Clubs.
Authentic Gameplay is tuned for higher realism and true-to-life match tempo/speed in offline modes, like Career Mode. This addresses years of complaints about Ultimate Team patches ruining Career Mode experiences.
Dribbling received a complete overhaul that eliminates the sluggish feeling from FC 25. Dribbling was improved, with EA adding Dynamic Dribbling, which will give users more control over players, as well as increase the players’ responsiveness when dribbling, leading to more consistent outcomes.
Physicality changes make shielding actually work consistently. In FC 26, Shielding has been fully reworked to provide you with more consistent options and extra authentic physicality across the pitch. A new feature called Contested Box Outs allows stronger players to hold off opponents when fighting for an aerial ball. Meanwhile, they reduced the effectiveness of tackling from behind the dribbler.
Ultimate Team Mode Revamp
Ultimate Team’s competitive structure has been completely restructured to address accessibility complaints from FC 25. Champions Playoffs are removed, Champions Qualification Points can now be earned from Division 7, and you’ll auto-qualify at Division 6 once you have enough points.
New competitive formats replace the stale system from FC 25. Live Events bring new formats like Gauntlet and the return of Tournaments, while core modes like Rivals and Champions have been reworked to be more accessible and better balanced for all players.
The matchmaking system includes new features like Limited Checkpoints that track losses and adjust your skill level more quickly, preventing extended losing streaks against superior opponents. Additionally, you can now access and compete in FC Pro tournaments directly from the Ultimate Team menu, something which players were not able to do in FC 25.
Should You Buy FC 26?
EA has built a reputation for overpromising and underdelivering with each annual release, and FC 26 follows the same concerning pattern. Despite marketing claims about revolutionary gameplay changes and fixes to long-standing issues, early player reactions tell a different story.
The Steam reviews paint a clear picture of community sentiment, with only 50.95% of Steam reviews being positive during early access. The split reception suggests the promised improvements haven’t materialized as advertised.
We strongly recommend waiting before purchasing FC 26. Let established reviewers and content creators spend significant time with the full release before making your decision. EA’s track record shows they often implement changes that favor monetization over gameplay quality weeks after launch, just like they did with FC 25.
Save your money until independent voices can provide honest, long-term assessments of whether FC 26 delivers on its promises or becomes another disappointment in the franchise’s recent history.
Final Words
FC 26 offers genuine improvements to gameplay mechanics and Ultimate Team accessibility on paper, but EA’s track record makes immediate purchase risky. With only 50.95% positive Steam reviews during early access, the community remains divided on whether these changes deliver meaningful progress.
Wait for independent reviews before buying. EA’s history of post-launch monetization changes means what looks promising now could become another FC 25 disappointment within weeks.
