EA Sports FC 26 has overtaken Pokémon Legends: Z-A to top the UK charts, with the latter dropping to second place. The new Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake debuted at number 6, and several Switch titles remain in the top ten, reflecting ongoing platform popularity. The charts highlight the competitive landscape of recent game releases in the UK.
EA Sports FC 26 is the best in years, featuring two distinct gameplay styles for different modes, significant improvements in realism and responsiveness, and engaging career and Ultimate Team modes, making it a highly enjoyable football game despite some mode similarities to previous versions.
EA Sports FC 26 has launched on all platforms with generally positive reviews, averaging 82 on Metacritic. Critics praise its refined modes, improved gameplay mechanics, and realism, with scores ranging from 7 to 9 out of 10. The game offers distinct gameplay styles to appeal to different players, though some flaws remain, particularly in balancing and monetization. Xbox Game Pass members can try a 10-hour free trial, with the full game expected on the main Xbox Game Pass library around June next year.
EA Sports FC 26 on Switch 2 is a significant improvement over previous Nintendo releases, offering full features and modes similar to other consoles, despite still running at 30fps. It provides an engaging football experience with new gameplay presets, an improved Manager Career mode, and full Ultimate Team features, though some issues like menu responsiveness and limited online community remain. Overall, it's the best Nintendo football game yet, setting a positive precedent for future releases.
EA Sports FC 26 on Switch 2 is locked at 30fps, which is disappointing compared to 60fps on other consoles, and has some bugs like NPCs standing still after halftime, though visual upgrades are noted. The full release is next week, and EA may address some issues.
EA Sports FC 26 introduces notable quality-of-life updates, including distinct gameplay presets for realism and fast-paced play, but is marred by a controversial Season Pass that locks iconic players behind paywalls and increased monetization across modes, raising concerns about the game's focus on profit over player experience.
EA Sports FC 26 introduces two distinct gameplay styles, Authentic and Competitive, allowing players to choose a slower, strategy-focused experience or a fast-paced, reaction-based one, with each mode having unique mechanics and settings to better cater to different player preferences.