The Last Kick Before EA FC 26 Lands – What You Need to Know

Video of EA FC 26 courtesy of the EA Sports FC channel

Look, when EA says they’ve revamped gameplay every year, you roll your eyes. But this time might actually be worth the fuss. Rumor has it EA flew out hardcore players to help fine-tune responsiveness. Quicker transitions, more fluid dribbling, and (finally!) goalkeepers that don’t seem like they were coded by your least favorite teammate. You know, the one who only plays with sprint and shoot buttons?

Expect smoother online matches, too. Supposedly, the devs tackled inconsistency issues like they were chasing Champions League glory. Fingers crossed? Sure. Trust EA blindly? Hah. That’s cute.

What About Women’s Football?

If 2023 was a breakout year for women’s football (hello, soaring Nielsen viewership stats), then EA FC 26 is riding the wave. They’ve doubled down on adding women’s leagues and competitions:

• Barclays WSL (Women’s Super League)
• Liga F
• Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga (Germany on point, as usual)
• UEFA Women’s Champions League

Yes, you can now guide your favorite women’s teams to glory without having to switch back to the men’s leagues for “better features.” Progress!

Are we psyched to see Marta or Sam Kerr dominate career mode? Obviously yes. Are we also going to exploit online players unfamiliar with women’s squads? Also yes.

Ultimate Edition or Standard?

The age-old question rises again: Do you go for the glitz of the Ultimate Edition or stick to the basics with Standard? Quick breakdown:

• Standard Edition gets you 20,000+ players, 750+ clubs, and zero unnecessary bells and whistles. $69.99. Solid.
• Ultimate Edition comes with Zlatan playing narcissistically on the cover (no surprise) and extras like:
  • 6,000 FC Points because $$$ are so last year. (looks at empty wallet)
  • A Player Evolution slot to partially address FUT power-up FOMO.
  • Untradeable Icon Player because your squad deserves a little flex’ing.

Price? $89.99. Some would say it’s a scam; others would call it “investing in happiness”.

Remember the Licenses? EA Certainly Does

Oh, licenses are plenty here. Good news for the football snobs! All your must-haves are featured:

1. UEFA Champions League (cue that anthem)
2. Europa League
3. CONMEBOL Libertadores
4. Premier League + La Liga
5. Iconic stadiums like Anfield, Parc des Princes, Allianz Arena, and everyone’s beloved Wembley.

The bad news? No Turkish Super Lig. Also, Neymar without any proper Brazilian Série A representation feels… odd? Guess there’s always next year.

Why Pre-order?

Because bonuses, of course. Order by Sept. 26, and you’re treated to:

• Archetype Unlock Consumables (fancy power-ups for players)
• Double AXP for 10 matches
• Manager perks with a 5-star coach
• ICON players for career points

Will these be game-changers? Meh. But EA knows gamers are suckers for freebies, so don’t kid yourself.

Should You Actually Buy EA FC 26?

Depends. If you’ve been chained to the EA franchise since its FIFA days, or you’re just aching to recreate those Friday-night friendlies (yelling at your friends included), then yeah, this upgrade is your ticket.

But if you’re skeptical and suspect that “new gameplay” is just a PR remix? Maybe wait until release reviews confirm or roast the promises.

At the end of the day, EA FC 26 will sell like hotcakes. Whether it’s worth the $70+ entry fee depends on how much you love the beautiful game and your tolerance for occasional EA heartbreak.

Where to Kick Off?

If your decision’s made and you’ve already got the snacks lined up for midnight launch parties, pre-order now to lock in the bonuses. Who knows? Zlatan’s narcissism might rub off on your squad-building skills.