Many players used to be die-hard FIFA fans, but have since fallen off the soccer game bandwagon and are now wondering whether they should revisit FC (FIFA series, as it was previously known).
I truly believe that now is the perfect time to pick up FC 26 for the following reasons.
I’ve played every version of FIFA (the predecessor of FC series) since FIFA 08. I remember the excitement of FIFA 09, when it first introduced the Ultimate Team mode.
Ever since then, I’ve been eager to play each new game, as I review them every year. But when I played last year, I found that, aside from the new Rush mode, the game lacked innovation, and the server speeds were incredibly slow, making it a bit frustrating.
Official Attitude
Nevertheless, even without review duties, I’d still want to play the latest version just for the fun of it. This is all thanks to the game’s new strategy. They’ve openly stated they’re listening to fans, and this isn’t just some marketing tactic; the developers are truly committed to it.
Take the slow server speeds, for example. This was one of the first major issues the development team addressed, demonstrating their commitment to listening to player feedback.
In my 17 years of playing FIFA, I’ve never heard the team acknowledge server issues before. Now, not only are they taking it seriously, they’re even visiting players’ homes to investigate, all to improve the game’s responsiveness.
Previously, many talented players struggled to reach their full potential in the game due to various settings. Now, after years of anticipation, the best players can finally shine in the game again.
While this may sacrifice absolute realism to some extent, after all, realism is no longer the primary focus of EA Sports FC 26, the most important thing is that players can enjoy the game again.
Game Styles
For those who still crave realism, FUT 26 offers two distinct play styles: Authentic and Competitive. Don’t underestimate this simple toggle; it truly transforms the gameplay experience.
Authentic
Designed for Career Mode players and offline fans, Authentic Mode features a slower pace and a more dynamic passing style.
The controller vibrations during physical contact make it feel incredibly realistic, making it feel like watching a soccer game on TV, with plenty of room to build up offense and execute tactics. Your family will definitely appreciate your experience playing this mode.
Competitive
Competitive Mode is the opposite, emphasizing speed, directness, and constant pressure. It’s perfect for Ultimate Team and Club Mode players, or those who enjoy a fast-paced, coordinated game.
Players can earn FC 26 coins by completing objectives and milestones in these game modes.
Other Improvements
In the preview we played, winning the ball back from opponents was still a bit challenging. However, the developers emphasized that good defending will be more rewarding in the final version. So far, it seems promising.
Tackles now require extremely precise timing, and there’s a slight delay after a tackle, so you can’t just throw them in. The upside, however, is that defenders have a better chance of controlling the ball after a tackle.
The frustrating bounces (where the ball rolls back to the opponent immediately after a tackle) are largely gone. Manual defending is now more rewarding, rewarding players who master it, while AI defending becomes less effective.
This means you can no longer select a defensive midfielder and rely on the center backs to automatically defend, as before. You must manually control the center backs to intercept passes, otherwise the defense will be quickly breached.
Also Read: EA FC 26 Ultimate Team Overview: What's Changing? - Gameplay & Quality Of Life
FC 25 had many frustrating issues that might not be noticeable at first, but become more apparent with more time.
For example, trivela shots were incredibly powerful, making them incredibly powerful for almost every player. Thankfully, these issues have been addressed in FIFA 26.
Of course, this new football game isn’t perfect. Overall, though, this new approach from the developers has rekindled my excitement for FC games, something I haven’t felt in years.
While we’ll have to wait for the final release to confirm whether they’ve truly listened to player feedback as they claim, the current signs are very positive.
With over a month to go until the final release, we’ll know if these improvements have truly been implemented.
In short, whether returning veterans or newcomers, FUT 26 demonstrates immense potential and commitment, making it well worth the wait and effort.
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