The excitement is high with EA Sports FC 26, bringing huge improvements and overhauls to the iconic FC gameplay. Fans have to wait for only a few more days to get their hands on the game. In the meantime, here’s everything you need to know about EA Sports FC 26, from its release date to the new gameplay fundamentals.
EA Sports FC 26 Release Date & Platforms
Being one of the most anticipated games of this month, EA Sports FC 26 is set to release on September 26, 2025, and players who have already pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition can start playing a week early, from September 19. The new era of football is launching on PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 1 & 2.
For players looking to pre-order, here are the prices on every platform for both the Standard and Ultimate Editions, so you can make up your mind which Edition you want. It’s worth noting that you’ll receive a full week of early access to the game on pre-ordering the Ultimate Edition.
Players can order from EA Play for an additional 10 per cent discount on EA Sports FC 26. Both the Standard and the Ultimate Editions contain bonuses and items that you’ll receive in-game on early access and the global launch of the game. Here’s what you’ll get for pre-ordering these editions:
For players who can’t wait to get their hands on the next generation of EA Sports FC, they can pre-order the Ultimate Edition. However, you’ll receive bonus items regardless of which EA Sports FC 26 Edition you order.
EA Sports FC 26 New Gameplay Features Explained
Come September 26, players all around the world will be stepping into EA Sports FC 26, and EA has promised a major overhaul and improvements to the classic FC gameplay. For the first time, the gameplay is being split into two modes: Competitive, which consists of Ultimate Team and Clubs, and Authentic, which will consist of modes like Career that puts a focus on solo players.
Competitive is built for online play, with more skill-based gameplay, enhanced AI, faster dribbling and passing, and direct control to make the gameplay more dynamic against other players. On the other hand, Authentic is built for solo players who prefer a more realistic approach to football, such as the Career mode, which will create the flow of a real football match with lifelike gameplay mechanics.
The AI is smarter, the animations are fluid and smoother, gameplay fundamentals have been refined, and the mechanics have been tailored to recreate the explosive player movements as one can expect in the real sport. EA Sports FC 26 has also made improvements to Goalkeepers, implementing machine learning to adapt and react to different scenarios.
Finally, EA has taken into consideration the community feedback on the series and brought in inspired features such as additional Player Roles, new PlayStyles, accessibility improvements, and more. Even with the annual player fatigue, EA Sports FC 26 is shaping up to be EA’s passion project with the overall improvements and overhaul, which could make this one of the best in the series.
Are you excited for EA Sports FC 26? Have you pre-ordered the game yet? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
