EA Sports FC 26 aims to significantly improve gameplay by making it more responsive, rewarding, and based on player feedback. This year's main goal is summarized as "make gameplay better". The development team focused on three key areas: separating competitive and authentic gameplay, overhauling gameplay fundamentals, and introducing feedback-inspired features and updates. The improvements extend across various aspects, including speed, passing, tackling, saves, and physics, to incorporate the most requested changes from the community.
Competitive and Authentic Gameplay Split
For the first time in the series, EA SPORTS FC 26 introduces two distinct gameplay templates: Competitive Gameplay and Authentic Gameplay. This separation allows EA to customize the match experience based on where and how players choose to play.
Competitive Gameplay is designed for online modes such as Football Ultimate Team™ and Clubs, as well as Online Seasons and Online Friendlies, where it is mandatory. It is also optional in Kick-Off and Career Mode. This template focuses on fast-paced, dynamic, and attacking football, rewarding precise timing and quick decisions. It is tuned for increased responsiveness, more player control, and a more consistent experience. Key characteristics include:
Faster passes.
More dynamic dribbling.
Fastest players feeling explosive.
Reduced auto-tackles and auto-blocks, encouraging manual defensive control.
Goalkeepers deflecting balls into safer zones more frequently, reducing frustrating rebound goals.
Reduced instances of balls bouncing back to opponents after tackles, blocks, or interceptions.
Less AI defending, leading to looser defensive lines.
A redesigned fatigue system where user-controlled players are not affected by fatigue's impact on Sprint Speed and Acceleration.
More responsive and smoother animation transitions.
Tighter control and increased speed while dribbling, with faster skill moves.
Increased variability on crosses and heading error, favoring player skill.
Increased variability in Corner Kicks outcomes, with fewer attacking players involved by default.
Less authentic visuals when avoiding a ball, to resolve these situations more effectively.
Players getting up quickly after being tackled.
Players showing no reaction animations when hit by a fast incoming ball.
Authentic Gameplay is the default for offline modes like Manager Career and Player Career Mode. It can also be toggled in Kick-Off. This template aims for an immersive and realistic football experience that mirrors real-life matches. It emphasizes true physics and realistic animations, reflecting the pace and unpredictability of actual football. While still responsive, matches are less "fast-paced" than in FUT. Distinct features include:
AI defense tuned differently to reflect the importance of teamwork.
Lower speeds for dribbling and skill moves.
More physics-based goalkeeper rebounds, blocks, and bounces.
More realistic tackle accuracy.
Greater AI defending with tighter defensive lines and realistic reactions.
More realistic and tighter positioning in midfield.
More realistic header passing and shooting accuracy.
Corner kicks and crossing tuned to match real-world success rates.
Players avoiding a ball might occasionally be hit instead.
More realistic animation transitions.
Human-like reactions and get-up animations.
Weather effects, including wind, rain, and snow, are turned on by default.
Authenticity Features Toggle: This setting activates features supporting Authentic gameplay, such as increased physics influence and AI defending assistance.
New Sliders: Five new sliders are introduced for Career Mode: Header Shot Error, Header Pass Error, Intercept Error, Ball Deflection Error, and Tackle Assistance, allowing for further customization of realism.
Improved CPU Team Playstyles: CPU opponents will make smarter and more varied decisions in attack (e.g., crossing, slow build-up, tiki-taka) and defense (e.g., pressing, sitting back, double contain).
Players can switch between both templates in Kick-Off and Career Mode to suit their preferences.
Overhauled Gameplay Fundamentals
A major focus for FC 26 is the refinement of foundational gameplay mechanics, which apply to both Competitive and Authentic Gameplay. This addresses common community feedback to provide a better football experience. The revamped fundamentals include goalkeeping, agility, tackling, interceptions, passing, dribbling, attacking movement, and physicality.
Dribbling and Movement
Players will feel more agile and responsive both with and without the ball. Dynamic Dribbling is a new system to enhance control, responsiveness, and consistency.
Dribble Touch Intervals are re-tuned, with the ball staying closer to the player, varying between Competitive and Authentic modes.
Player Height now has adjusted animation consistency and speed to balance performance between tall and short players.
Foot Preference logic and animation branching are adjusted for more responsive ball control.
Dribbling Animation library re-evaluated for consistency, speed, and responsiveness, with improved transitions to reduce feeling "locked in".
Jog Dribble speed is increased, with improved ball direction logic.
Effort Dribble Touches trigger for faster, authentic turns during drastic dribbles.
Agile Dribbling (L2+R2/LT+RT) has been removed due to low usage, to make Shielding controls more consistent.
More Agility makes all players more agile and able to accelerate explosively in any direction.
Explosive Sprint increases player agility and explosiveness.
Run Styles are adjusted to be more natural and explosive.
Attacker Vs Defender Speed differentiation is improved for better balance.
Acceleration Types: The game reverts to three Acceleration Types (Explosive, Lengthy, Controlled) for more predictable pace. Formulas now separate male and female player height requirements for better distribution.
Early stages of all three types are more responsive.
Deceleration for all players is faster and snappier.
Jockey movement is improved to be more agile and responsive with new animations. All types of Turns are faster and more responsive. Low Urgency animations for players not directly involved are less frantic, making them ready to accelerate when needed.
Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers are designed to be smarter, more consistent, and more stable, reducing frustration and balancing skill with authenticity.
Deflection Control provides a new level of control for save deflections, significantly reducing the amount of deflections going back to opponents. Most deflections will now go out of bounds, to teammates, or open space away from opponents.
Goalkeeper Senses are refined to better read shot trajectories.
Technical Improvements include more consistent shot-stopping and more reasonable decision-making in one-on-one situations.
Reinforcement-Learning (RL) Goalkeeper Positioning uses machine learning to help AI-controlled goalkeepers make more realistic decisions about positioning in the box, cutting down angles more intelligently. This system is active in certain situations for positioning, but not for making saves or catches.
New Volumetric Animations are based on real-world motion capture data, resulting in more fluid and realistic movements, enhancing visual authenticity and accurate responses to shots.
Be-A-Goalkeeper (BAG) mode has received a comprehensive update with new controls, assistance levels, PlayStyles, revamped UI, and updated presentation.
New Control Scheme for dive direction, cross claiming (punch or catch), smothering the ball, and reaction saves.
New Dive Direction UI and updated auto-positioning AR visual.
A new 11v11 Camera brings players closer to the action with manual pan ability.
Defending
EA focused heavily on improving tackling, interceptions, and blocks to reward well-timed challenges and anticipated passes, making players more likely to win the ball cleanly and retain possession.
Tackle Outcomes: Improved logic for stand and slide tackles to direct the ball to a teammate.
Shot Blocks and Interceptions now use a new deflection control system to put the ball away from danger or keep possession/move to a teammate.
Tackled Opponents will react more realistically after being dispossessed, reducing the likelihood of them immediately recovering the ball.
Tackle Spam logic is improved, making the delay after a missed tackle more consistent.
Tackle vs Block logic ensures defenders are more likely to attempt a tackle near a dribbler about to shoot, rather than just a block.
Tackles From Behind are less effective.
Tackle Personality adds more variety to stand tackles based on a player's attribute rating, with higher-rated players performing all animations.
Passing and Shooting
The aim is to make passing and shooting feel more responsive and provide better options.
Pass Responsiveness: First-time passes are especially responsive, with rebalanced animation restrictions for broader angles and faster animations for short passes.
Passes Behind: Increased animation coverage for 135° and 180° passes, allowing contextual backheel passes. First-time through passes in these angles are less accurate to prevent exploits.
Quick Passes are optimized for faster, more responsive animations with minimal wind-up. Note: In Competitive Gameplay, first-time pass accuracy is reduced despite increased responsiveness.
Improved Through Pass Targets: Introduced "Passing Lanes" for semi-assisted through passes, ensuring better target selection for the intended receiver. Through passes will also lead receivers more effectively.
General improvements to pass receiver selection, crosses (leading more in front), ground passes (straighter trajectory), lob passes (more driven), goalkeeper throws, and clearances.
Shooting Responsiveness: Shots near the net use more reactive animations, and shooting angles are rebalanced for broader coverage.
Low Driven Additions and Timed Finishing Removal: Low Driven shots are now performed by double-tapping the shoot button and are a global modifier for all shot types (except Chip Shots). Timed Finishing has been removed as it didn't add meaningful skill depth and was difficult to balance, disproportionately rewarding long-range shots. This change aims for more consistent outcomes and allows Precision Shooting to differentiate skill.
Trivela Shots and Gamechanger PlayStyle: Trivela shots are now tied to the new Gamechanger PlayStyle. Players without this PlayStyle will perform a lace shot instead. This change aims to balance shooting mechanics and reduce overuse.
Physicality
The game introduces completely new ways to use a player's physical power for shielding the ball, making it more consistent and effective.
Shield Trapping: Allows players to use the shield button to stand their ground when receiving the ball. Improved positioning, increased strength-based differentiation, and new animations enhance effectiveness.
Shield Dribbling: Reworked for more consistency, better respecting player input, and improved transition to sprint.
Shield Entries: New ways to perform one-off shield actions while moving, such as Dribbling Shoulder Challenges, to protect the ball or create space.
Improved physics effects for both the shielder and the shieldee.
Contested Box Outs: A new mechanic allowing stronger players to use shielding to keep opponents away when fighting for an incoming air ball, creating space for traps or headers. Effectiveness is based on strength difference and good positioning.
Other physics changes include more reliable jumping over fallen players and players being "more slippery" to avoid getting stuck together.
Attacking and Defensive Positioning
The goal is to make teammates' positioning more flexible, providing more options and support as players advance up the pitch.
Player Support: Re-evaluated positioning logic for better supporting options for the ball carrier.
Attacking Runs: Increased number of attacking runs by players, reducing reliance on triggered runs, and more consistently running into open space. Players are less constrained by rigid roles and will make optimal runs (e.g., wingers cutting into the box, wingbacks moving forward).
Balanced Build Up: Teams will have a more balanced approach, offering both run and close-support options.
Offside Runs: Attackers' ability to stay onside and recover quickly if offside is improved.
Defending Positioning :
Player marking: Defenders will man-mark opponents tighter when close and inside the box.
Defensive Line Height: The defensive line will not automatically push up as far when trying to keep players offside.
Controlling the Ball and First Touches
Improvements aim to make players feel more agile and in control of the ball, especially when trapping it.
First Touch Responsiveness: Significantly improved to seamlessly transition into dribbling.
Ball Control: Refined ability to control the ball after a pass or interception, influenced by factors like ball speed, height, pressure, body part used, and player attributes.
First Touch Precision: Holding L2/LT greatly improves ball control at the trade-off of move speed, with earlier input resulting in increased control.
Flick Ups: Improved for consistency and predictability in all directions, though consecutive flick-ups become less effective to prevent exploits.
Loose and Contested Balls Player Urgency: New ability to increase urgency when attempting to reach loose or contested balls by pressing Sprint (R2/RT).
Online and General Gameplay Responsiveness
EA continues to investigate and improve online/offline responsiveness.
Gameplay Animation Improvements: Transitions and branching are re-evaluated for consistency and responsiveness, with better alignment between ball trajectories and animations.
Fatigue Redesigned: For Competitive Gameplay, short-term and long-term fatigue only affect AI-controlled players; user-controlled players are not affected while being controlled, ensuring consistent performance. For Authentic Gameplay, fatigue works as before. In Clubs, short-term fatigue works as before, but long-term fatigue doesn't accumulate.
Inputs, Indicators, and Overlays: Improved Input Processing System, fixed Skill Move detection, and a more responsive Player Indicator. A new overlay displays connection status.
Feedback-Inspired Features and Updates
EA SPORTS FC 26 introduces new and updated features based on community requests, ranging from accessibility options to new PlayStyles and Player Roles.
Accessibility
EA aims to make FC 26 more accessible for everyone, including a new High-Contrast Mode.
High-Contrast Mode increases visual separation between footballers, the pitch, and key gameplay elements. It's customizable, allowing players to define colors for each team's kits, goalkeepers, the ball, and the referee. Players can also disable player and stadium shadows.
Pitch Saturation Slider allows adjusting pitch color intensity to reduce visual clutter.
An Accessibility Boot Flow Screen guides new players through options on first launch.
Improved Subtitles offer customizable text size, color, drop shadows, and background.
Simplified Skill Moves allow executing contextually appropriate skill moves with a simple flick of the right stick, making them more accessible.
PlayStyles
EA rebalanced existing PlayStyles and increased the impact of player attributes. High-rated players will perform core mechanics reliably based on attributes, with PlayStyles serving as unique, situational boosts rather than requirements.
Five new PlayStyles are introduced:
Enforcer: Enhances dribble shoulder challenges and shielding effectiveness for physical attackers.
Aerial Fortress: Defensive players dominate aerial battles in defensive scenarios, performing higher jumps with improved physical presence. (Reconfigures former Aerial PlayStyle).
Precision Header: Offensive players specialize in controlled, accurate headers with increased accuracy and power. (Refined from former Power Header PlayStyle).
Gamechanger: For extraordinary and unconventional finishes; Trivela Shots can only be performed by players with this PlayStyle. (Combines elements of former Flair and Trivela PlayStyles).
Inventive: Specializes in creative passing; Fancy and Trivela passes are performed with improved accuracy. (Combines elements of former Flair and Trivela PlayStyles).
Removed PlayStyles: Power Header, Aerial, Trivela, and Flair.
Relentless PlayStyle now also contributes to increasing the speed of short-term stamina regeneration.
New Player Roles (FC IQ)
FC 26 introduces new Player Roles that embody modern football, providing opportunities to customize tactical approaches beyond rigid schemes. Player roles are now more flexible, allowing players to go beyond strict role dictates if opportunities arise.
Four new Roles:
Ball-Playing Keeper: Supports build-up play as a passing option and stays on the line in defense.
Wide Back: A central defender who opens wide to cover for fullbacks, ideal for back-three formations.
Inverted Wingback: A modern attacking fullback who adopts a central position high up the pitch when the team has the ball.
Box Crasher: A defensive midfielder who can get forward to join the attack with trailing runs into the box but is slow to return to defensive duties.
New "Versatile" Focus allows players to be more flexible within their roles.
10 new Focuses for existing Roles, along with reworked Wide Mid and Sweeper Keeper roles.
New Set Piece Assignments: 2 new Attacking Corner Kick assignments (Top of Box, Defensive Cover) and 4 separate Defensive Corner Kick assignments (Threat Marker, Post Watcher, Near Post, Back Post).
Quality of Life Improvements: Out-of-Position Indicator, With/Without Ball View in Squad, Shortcut to Active Tactic, Spider-chart Tactical Breakdown, and ability to save/load Tactics Codes.
Skill Moves
FC 26 adds several new Skill Moves to offer more ways for players to express themselves.
New Skill Moves include: Explosive Stepover, Advanced Heel Flick, Drag To Chop, Elastico Variation, and New Trickster Rainbow.
Adjustments to existing moves like Lane Change and Drag Back.
Closer ball control during skill moves while sprinting, reduced skill move error, and faster transitions for Fake Shot to Stops.
Goalkeepers can now perform more skill moves like Ball Rolls, Body Feints, and Roulette.
Reduced speed boost effect during Step-Overs.
Simplified Skill Moves (as mentioned under Accessibility) provide contextual skill moves with a simple right stick flick, varying by star rating.
These extensive changes, removals, and overhauls demonstrate EA's commitment to delivering a more responsive, rewarding, and authentic football experience in FC 26, largely driven by community feedback.
