In the expansive office space at EA’s Vancouver campus, numerous people gather around multiple monitors to engage in EA Sports FC 26. Nearby hang soccer jerseys from various global leagues, as staff members monitor the match feed. The players include members of EA’s Design Council, professional athletes, influencers, and devoted fans, who frequently join to play, pose questions, and offer feedback on new updates. These councils have been active for years, but their insights are being taken more seriously than ever for this third iteration of the EA Sports FC series, the successor to EA’s FIFA franchise.

Let’s delve into the game for the journalists invited here. Insufficient response for EA Sports FC 25 emphasizes that addressing user feedback is the priority. EA has launched a new player feedback portal and a dedicated Discord channel for fans to voice their concerns. Additionally, developers have implemented AI-driven social listening tools to track discussions about EA Sports FC across platforms such as X, Instagram, and YouTube.

“There were so many different groups working on feedback across EA that we were overwhelmed by the individual teams in the game,” explains lead producer Joel Doonan. “Now we’re really focusing on it. How can we ensure that people who need to know are getting the right information at the right time and can respond as quickly as possible?”

“There’s also been a shift in the percentage of team resources devoted to our feedback commitment. We have a continuous development team. Currently, ten engineers are dedicated to processing feedback rather than waiting for FC 27. That’s what players expect today.”

Significant changes are genuine surprises. Two distinct play styles are offered: competitive and authentic. The competitive mode emphasizes speed, fluidity, and high scoring, capturing the rapid gameplay of classic FIFA titles while omitting elements like player fatigue. It directly influences online competitive modes such as Ultimate Teams and Clubs. Conversely, the authentic mode serves as a pure simulation aimed at offline players, characterized by slow build-up play and realistic outcomes.

“I’ve wanted to do this for some time, but other areas took precedence,” states Sam Rivera, production director for gameplay. “It’s clear, based on feedback, that it’s impossible to satisfy everyone with a single gameplay experience. Some players prefer simulations, while others desire more responsive experiences that let AI take on more roles instead of just assisting with specific actions. We’re now better positioned to support both in ways that align with different community needs.”

The dribbling feels tight and fluid, allowing for increased directional freedom for players. When in a scoring position, there’s a new feature that enables users to double-tap the shoot button for a powerful low shot, as opposed to simply lofting the ball. Goalkeeping mechanics have been enhanced with smarter positioning, utilizing new reinforcement learning AI, to minimize the chances of the ball being sent back to the offensive player. Likewise, defensive tackles will see less rebound, while attacking players will benefit from improved ball shielding.

The development team seems to have drawn inspiration from contemporary games and genres. The new archetype feature in Club and Player Career Modes lets players design and create individuals across 13 types (including categories such as Magician, Recycler, Boss, etc.). This is reminiscent of character classes in RPGs, allowing players to earn experience points throughout their careers and upgrade stats. Additionally, the Manager Live Career Mode allows you to lead head coaches through multiple seasons, pulling from live service inspirations like Fortnite. Weekly challenges occur throughout the year, encouraging players to set targets, such as topping the Christmas league. Some features are inspired by real-life sports unpredictability. During the demo presentation, Pete O’Donnell, Design Director of Career Mode, highlighted an intriguing scenario: a food poisoning outbreak affecting the Italian Serie B team Salernitana at the end of the last season. Will the team handle the sudden epidemic before a crucial playoff match?

The most beloved aspect of the game, Ultimate Team, has received an array of new features. The controversial Panini sticker-style fantasy football mode allows players to create teams by opening randomized digital packs, where competitors engage in live tournament modes with linked competitions throughout the season. A new feature called Bounties introduces players to randomized challenges like “scoring first/last goal” and “maintaining a clean sheet,” ensuring that even in a losing online match, players still receive rewards. Additionally, Gauntlets present a rapid live event requiring competitors to complete a five-match series, with each match demanding a different player from the team.

I believe that the focus on user feedback serves as a timely PR strategy, much like the authentic design principles. The game’s recent launch trailers spotlight gameplay footage rather than flashy cinematics. The underlying message is, “We’re listening to you, stay with us.” Timing is also crucial; in June, FIFA launched a competitor for the casual mobile title, indicating they may collaborate with developers on a more refined football simulation ahead of next year’s Men’s World Cup. EA Sports has been in this arena for several years, but the window may be narrowing. Fan support for EA Sports FC 25 is invaluable.

EA Sports FC 26 will be available on PC, PS5, Xbox, and Switch on September 26th.