EA Sports FC 26 review

In recent times, EA has found itself in a bit of a tight spot with its EA Sports FC series. That is: different people want it to be different things. There are some that want it to be snappy and fast paced, even if that means it’s not quite a realistic depiction of the sport. Then there are others that really want authenticity. With EA Sports FC 26, EA aims to solve the issue by introducing two distinct gameplay presets. For those who want speed and exciting end-to-end action there’s Competitive, and for those who want a slower, more realistic game of football, there’s Authentic.

These gameplay presets are perhaps the biggest change in this year’s EA Sports FC, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other changes, too. It’s just that they’re not as exciting or impactful. Jump into Clubs or Player Career, for example, and you’ll find new Archetypes, allowing you to further make your custom player your own. By earning Archetype XP throughout your career you’ll be able to gain access to a wide range of perks, and you’ll be able to choose a selection of them to define your playstyle.

One thing EA Sports FC 26 is big on in nearly all modes this year is dynamic events and challenges. You’ll find Live Events in both Ultimate Team and Clubs, offering themed competitions and gameplay challenges to keep things feeling fresh throughout the season.

Meanwhile, Manager Career is enhanced by Manager Live Challenges, which throw up a variety of real-world scenarios to add some authenticity and unpredictability, keeping would-be managers on their toes. These, along with other new additions such as Bounties in Ultimate Team, which allow players to earn additional rewards, result in modes that feel at least a little refreshed.

The new gameplay presets are the main reason to pick up EA Sports FC 26, though, as they really are quite impactful. Play using the Authentic preset and you’ll find play more methodical, with more realistic physics and other gameplay elements. You’ll even have to consider things like the wind and the weather. The Competitive preset, on the other hand, is all about more direct control and a faster pace.

Related: EA is focusing on improving the gameplay in EA Sports FC 26

When playing offline game modes, you’ll generally find that both presets are available, and you can even create your own custom style, taking elements from both to come up with your own way to play. When playing online game modes, however, you’ll find yourself locked to the Competitive preset. It’s somewhat understandable, but it would be nice to have a choice.

In any case, whichever preset you’re playing under, you’ll find a wealth of gameplay tweaks that make EA Sports FC 26 feel a lot better than last year’s release. Things have been fine-tuned and tightened up, basically. Straight away you’ll notice that goalkeepers react more naturally, and player positioning has been improved across the board. Perhaps most importantly, dribbling and player movement have been on the receiving end of some love. With countless other small tweaks, the gameplay has never been so responsive or looked more lifelike.

As ever when it comes to the latest entry in a series with yearly releases, EA Sports FC 26 isn’t a drastic departure from what has come before. But while its modes have received only light to moderate tweaks and updates, the gameplay has been given some real care and attention. The introduction of gameplay presets is pretty big; you can really tell the difference when switching between the two. And no matter which preset you find yourself playing with, you’ll greatly appreciate the improvements under the hood, making this the most authentic and enjoyable depiction of the sport to date.