EA Sports FC 26

About

EA Sports FC 26 is a single player and multiplayer sport game. It was developed by EA Canada and was released on September 8, 2025. It received neutral reviews from players.

EA Sports FC 26 offers an enhanced football experience with overhauled gameplay modes tailored for both authentic and competitive playstyles. It features refined controls, improved responsiveness, and deep customization, allowing players to manage their club and enjoy a realistic football simulation. Community feedback has significantly shaped this dynamic, immersive game.

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45%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,388 reviews

gameplay179 positive mentions

optimization157 negative mentions

The game has improved graphics and smoother gameplay compared to previous versions.
Career mode offers meaningful upgrades and a more engaging experience.
Playing with friends in clubs can be a fun experience despite the game's flaws.

The game is riddled with bugs, including severe input lag and frequent crashes, making it unplayable for many users.
Online modes suffer from terrible server issues, leading to disconnections and frustrating gameplay.
Many players feel that the game is a cash grab, with a heavy emphasis on microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics.

gameplay
855 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
59%
20%
The gameplay in EA FC 26 has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over persistent lag, unresponsive controls, and inconsistent mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While some users appreciate improvements in player animations and the introduction of dual gameplay modes (authentic and competitive), others criticize the game for its chaotic nature, poor AI behavior, and a lack of meaningful changes from previous iterations. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a step forward in some aspects but remains plagued by technical issues and a frustrating online experience.
- “The gameplay feels smoother, more responsive, and overall more enjoyable.”
- “The gameplay is much better than the last two years.”
- “The gameplay is smoother, the defending is better!”
- “The gameplay is broken as hell: defenders just stand there doing nothing, the AI is dumb, and every match turns into some chaotic arcade instead of real football.”
- “The gameplay is so bad that it feels lagging all the time like you were playing on 30fps.”
- “The gameplay feels heavy, unresponsive, and unfair.”
optimization
352 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
48%
45%
The optimization of EA Sports FC 26 has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and inconsistent frame rates, particularly on PC. Many users describe the game as unplayable due to these problems, which seem to persist regardless of hardware specifications, leading to frustration over the lack of meaningful improvements or patches from the developers. Overall, the game's optimization is viewed as one of its most significant shortcomings, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Performance has been completely smooth for me, which already puts it ahead of what a lot of reviews are claiming.”
- “This is an upgraded version of FC 25, offering smoother, lag-free, and optimized gameplay.”
- “The optimization is really good, and after 5 hours of gameplay I haven’t had a single crash or technical issue.”
- “This isn’t 'poorly optimized.' This is a broken game sold at full price.”
- “The game is not optimized at all and keeps crashing constantly.”
- “Performance issues aren’t just occasional annoyances—they’re the entire experience.”
stability
249 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that render it nearly unplayable. Many players experience frequent crashes, freezes, and input delays, leading to frustration and disappointment, particularly in online modes. Overall, the game appears to have been rushed out, lacking the polish expected from a major release, and many reviewers advise against purchasing it until significant fixes are implemented.
- “Very nice game, no cheaters, no bugs, no glitches, no bounce back.”
- “Game feels great, runs great on my average PC, is fun and decently balanced, and I have nothing really to complain about.”
- “Add all the bugs, random glitches, and inconsistent performance, and it becomes obvious this game was rushed out just to cash in again.”
- “Instead of fixing core issues, FC 26 delivers a broken, buggy mess that feels rushed, untested, and borderline unplayable, leaving you wondering how a football game can be this full of glitches and still be sold as a finished product.”
- “Any enjoyment the game might offer is buried under constant crashes, freezes, and technical issues that make it feel more like an unstable early beta than a finished product.”
graphics
197 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
69%
8%
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning visuals and improved animations, while others criticize persistent issues such as settings resetting, lag, and poor optimization. Many users report that despite having capable hardware, they experience significant performance problems, including stuttering and frame rate drops, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are considered a step up from previous iterations, technical issues overshadow the visual improvements for many players.
- “The graphics are stunning — easily the best in the series so far.”
- “The graphics are very pretty and the frame rate is decent for my system, which is probably beyond recommended specs.”
- “Some of the best graphics I've ever seen, down to kits, players' faces, you can see genuine emotions and sweat.”
- “The game does not save graphics or gameplay settings, configuration files are not created in the documents folder, and all settings reset automatically every time the game is launched.”
- “Worst I've played by far... laggy, graphics suck, the amount of unrealistic stuff that happens here... lol you guys are a joke!”
- “The graphics settings reset themselves and randomly force ultra like the game knows better than you.”
monetization
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
45%
50%
The monetization strategy in EA's latest football game has drawn significant criticism, with players expressing frustration over aggressive microtransactions and in-game advertisements that detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers feel that the game prioritizes profit over quality, labeling it a "cash grab" and lamenting the introduction of monetization into modes previously free from such practices. Despite some positive aspects of gameplay, the overwhelming focus on monetization has left a sour taste for both new and veteran players.
- “Players are given tiny drops of enjoyment just enough to stay hooked, while being hit with massive waves of frustration, grind, and monetization.”
- “While the perennial issues of aggressive monetization in Ultimate Team and some optimization hiccups prevent it from being a legendary entry, the innovations in career mode and the quality of the on-pitch football in both modes make EA FC 26 a must-buy for any fan of the sport.”
- “Not recommended for old FIFA fans and certainly not worth the asking price of $69.99 USD, which is practically daylight robbery from a greedy company EA that is compromising on quality and implementing microtransactions across their latest lineup of video games.”
- “The only 'fun' thing about this game is opening packs, as EA has mastered having multiple types of each player, exploiting FOMO and mincing in-game purchases for pay-to-win. This game is just a thrill-seek for those who like gambling.”
- “At this point, they are plain thieves and all of their work goes to adding new ways to milk people for money with microtransactions and masked betting.”
grinding
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players overwhelmingly describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, often feeling that significant time investment is required to progress or unlock features, with many expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of meaningful rewards. The grind is compounded by buggy objectives and a convoluted menu system, leading to a perception that the game is designed to encourage microtransactions rather than provide a fun experience. Overall, while some players find enjoyment in the game, the grinding mechanics are frequently criticized as excessive and unenjoyable.
- “It feels like the only way to progress is to spend hours grinding each archetype or pay to speed it up.”
- “After spending hours grinding through a bunch of tedious objectives to unlock access to the transfer market (why!?), I am congratulated with the message that I have to wait one day and 23 hours to access the transfer market... I ran to Google and Reddit to find a bug fix, but no - this is not a bug, this is an intentional measure from EA.”
- “And if by some miracle you actually find a way to consistently enjoy the game, you have to constantly be grinding game modes you don't want to play for things like battle pass rewards and evolutions to the point that you will hate the game.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
52%
32%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack for enhancing the gameplay experience, while others criticize it as terrible and filled with unwanted tracks. Many users express nostalgia for certain songs but also highlight issues like poor audio mixing and a lack of variety in the music selection. Overall, the music aspect seems to be a significant point of contention, with opinions ranging from enjoyment to outright disdain.
- “Amazing game if all you want is to navigate a menu with cool music.”
- “The soundtrack and commentary are both strong, helping create a lively atmosphere that matches the energy on the pitch.”
- “Smooth and satisfying gameplay, fire soundtrack (although subjective) and a nice visual update to the menus.”
- “No innovation (duh), buggy cutscenes and replays, tedious career mode, a surprising amount of small logical mistakes that add up quickly, shitty soundtrack, bad audio mixing, could go on but what's the point.”
- “Not good music, absolutely shitty music in the game!”
- “The worst music playlist ever, first time I had to turn it off completely.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the engaging narratives and emotional depth in career mode, while others criticize the lack of innovation and persistent bugs that detract from the experience. Many users express frustration over server issues and gameplay inconsistencies, leading to a feeling that the overall story remains stagnant year after year. Despite some improvements in AI and match dynamics, the overarching sentiment is that the game fails to deliver a cohesive and satisfying story experience.
- “Animations are smoother, the AI finally thinks instead of panicking, and every match feels like its own story.”
- “These features introduce alternative storylines and realistic, mid-season tactical shifts, ensuring that each season feels fresh and challenging.”
- “✅ Career mode got more story & emotion — you actually feel like a manager now ”
- “Every year it’s the same story: zero optimization, zero server quality, and now somehow it’s even worse.”
- “Same story every single year.”
- “Another year where EA Sports completely misses the plot with FC/FIFA.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game is largely derived from its numerous bugs and frustrating gameplay, leading players to laugh in disbelief at the absurdity of their experiences. Many reviews highlight the irony of a high-priced game being riddled with issues, making the situation both comical and infuriating. While some find enjoyment in the chaos, the overall sentiment suggests that the humor quickly turns to frustration as players grapple with the game's shortcomings.
- “The fact that this game claims to be competitive and that it even has an esports scene is genuinely hilarious.”
- “It doesn’t matter if you have good ping or a decent PC, this year it’s absolutely hilarious.”
- “Genuinely had high hopes for this game and as a Bayern fan I was happy to finally get the Allianz Arena, in return for the hype and excitement I got handed the hardest form of rage bait, it's like the game is laughing in your face.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The atmosphere in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the lively crowd dynamics and strong presentation that enhance the match experience, while others criticize the lack of immersion and generic stadium environments. Although the new player career cutscenes add personality, many feel that the overall atmosphere around the pitch is lacking, with stagnant crowd animations and a uniform feel across different leagues.
- “The biggest highlight for me is the new player career presentation; being able to watch the full cutscene before matches adds so much atmosphere and personality.”
- “The crowd atmosphere and broadcast-style presentation make each match feel alive.”
- “The soundtrack and commentary are both strong, helping create a lively atmosphere that matches the energy on the pitch.”
- “Overall atmosphere feels dead around the pitch, basically none moves.”
- “Graphics wise for 2025 is nothing to write home about, stadiums feel bland and same crowd atmosphere across all leagues, every league feels generic, no league feels unique anymore.”
- “Wow, what a stadium atmosphere... why leave it to the players to skip so some dickhead can just waste your time?”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of emotional engagement and frustration with the game, highlighting moments of connection to the sport and career mode, but also significant disappointment due to gameplay issues and perceived lack of quality. While some feel immersed in the football experience, others are left feeling frustrated and disillusioned, leading to a strong aversion to the game.
- “It made me feel much more connected to my career run, like I was actually stepping into a real football moment rather than jumping straight into gameplay.”
- “This franchise and the company behind it have made me feel a level of frustration and disappointment that I did not think a video game could cause.”
- “My team was leading 2-0, which made me feel more comfortable that we would win, so I decided to make a substitution and end the game.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Players note that while the game offers significant playtime, with some enjoying up to 150 hours, it lacks a strong sense of purpose and replayability. Improvements have made the game more enjoyable compared to previous versions, but concerns remain about additional costs for playable content.
- “Needs a little more purpose and replayability, but a banger for at least 150 hours.”
- “The game is way more playable this year in comparison to previous versions.”
- “It used to be very irritating, but it’s much improved now, making the game far more playable.”
- “Needs a little more purpose and replayability, but a banger for 150 hours at least.”
- “The game is way more playable this year in comparison to 24 and 25 (not saying it's good).”
- “It used to be very irritating, but it's much improved now, making the game far more playable.”