Today, EA has released its first deep dive for EA Sports FC 26, focused on gameplay. After what was arguably the best initial trailer for the franchise in over a decade, players, myself included, couldn’t wait to see more. So, did this gameplay deep-dive deliver?
Why don’t you judge it for yourself and check out the trailer.
The primary focus of this gameplay deep-dive is the split between gameplay styles. Competitive mode is now the default for online multiplayer modes such as Ultimate Team and Clubs. This mode delivers a faster pace and emphasizes end-to-end, attack-heavy football.
If you’re like me and spend most of your time in Manager Career Mode, your gameplay will default to authentic mode. As the name suggests, this style is designed to better emulate real-world football. Passing and dribbling are slightly slower than in competitive mode, but with true physics and the game’s most realistic animations across all situations, the experience feels much more lifelike. Fortunately, if authentic gameplay isn’t your preference, you can set up a career mode using competitive mode instead. Offline players now have the flexibility to choose between both styles.
The trailer also highlights several other gameplay improvements, including new playstyles, expanded player roles, and various refinements across the board.
What stood out most to me, though, was EA’s clear focus on accessibility in EA FC 26. From a highly customizable high-contrast mode to simplified skill moves and more, it’s obvious that EA is finally listening to the community.
You can now provide feedback directly to EA through FC Feedback, a new initiative aimed at giving players a bigger voice in shaping the future of EA Sports FC. Many of the new features in FC 26 are a result of community input, and EA seems committed to continuing that trend.
Pre-orders are now available for EA SPORTS FC 26, which will launch on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. EA SPORTS FC 26 will be available worldwide to play on September 26, 2025, with early access through the Ultimate Edition beginning September 19, 2025.
