An Open Letter to EA Sports
To the EA Sports Development Team,
As an avid player and lifelong fan of football, I write this letter with a sense of urgency. The world of football has undergone an extraordinary transformation over the past few decades. From the rise of new footballing nations to the global financialisation of the game, football is no longer just about a match on the field. It is about intricate dynamics, off-pitch politics, and the ever-present tension between ambition, identity, and legacy. Yet, the representation of this world in video games, especially EA Sports FC 26, remains far too simplistic, often focused solely on numbers and statistics rather than the deeper emotional and social layers that shape the beautiful game.
If EA Sports FC 26 is to stand as the pinnacle of football simulation, it must move beyond its current structure and embrace the complexities that define modern football. Below are 20 groundbreaking features that would not only elevate the experience but provide a more authentic, multifaceted view of football and management.
1. Media Influence and Club Crisis System: Modern football, especially at the managerial level, is fraught with media scrutiny. A simple losing streak can lead to boardroom tension, player unrest, and even a managerial sacking. Why not integrate a deeper crisis system that involves both media pressure and fan backlash, requiring managers to manage their club's narrative? This element would increase the stakes for both managers and players, making decisions far more meaningful.
2. Career Challenges: Footballers’ careers rarely follow a straight path. Injuries, personal challenges, and club politics often alter their trajectory. By introducing career challenges that influence a player’s growth or fall from grace, EA can create more immersive narratives where players’ choices shape the unfolding story—decisions like handling public scandals, switching clubs due to rivalry, or recovering from serious injuries.
3. Youth Academy Growth: In real life, clubs such as Ajax, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich have built their fortunes not on foreign signings but on the backbone of their youth academies. Why hasn’t EA Sports deepened the youth development system to reflect this? Youth academies should be a central part of the game, where the nurturing of talent has far-reaching consequences for long-term success.
4. Player Character Development: A player’s journey should not just be measured by stats on the field. Their personal growth, relationships with teammates, managers, and the public should be an integral part of their career. EA should allow players to craft their character’s identity, from on-field personality to off-field charisma, facing challenges beyond just tactical ones.
5. Partnerships with Clubs from Other Leagues: The modern football ecosystem is no longer confined to one’s domestic league. Clubs routinely enter partnerships with teams from around the globe for strategic advantage—be it for financial growth, talent scouting, or brand expansion. Why not allow for cross-league partnerships, offering players a chance to develop international relations and seek global talent?
6. Sponsorship Collaboration and Commercial Influence: The financial side of football has become just as critical as the on-field performance. Sponsorship deals now have the potential to make or break clubs. EA Sports should create systems where clubs and players negotiate sponsorship deals, affecting both the club’s finances and the personal brand of players.
7. Fan Influence and Social Movements: Fans have power. From pushing for transfers to influencing managerial appointments or leading social movements, their voice is often louder than that of the management. By introducing a system where fan movements and protests directly affect the team’s atmosphere or managerial decisions, EA can introduce a level of societal realism that reflects the power dynamics between fans, players, and ownership.
8. Player Ownership of Clubs: After years of playing, why can’t a player own a club after retirement? This could add an emotional dimension to the player’s journey, where they don’t just become a football legend but also build a legacy through ownership. EA Sports should enable players to take control of clubs, navigating financial decisions, recruitment, and global expansions.
9. Improved User Interface (UI) and Realistic Visuals: The interface should transcend being a mere functional tool. The current UI often feels too sterile and utilitarian, removing players from the emotional journey. EA Sports should aim for a design that reflects the highs and lows of football, with user interfaces that change depending on the team’s current form or mood. This would push for an immersive, narrative-driven experience.
10. Global Competitions and International Tournaments: Football is no longer just about domestic leagues. With the rise of intercontinental competitions and international cup tournaments, EA Sports FC 26 should provide a more complex representation of football beyond one’s domestic league. This feature would allow teams to compete in global tournaments, pushing players to expand their reach and compete on an international level.
11. A More In-Depth Transfer System: Transfers are no longer simple buy-and-sell deals; they involve personal agendas, media influence, and geopolitical factors. By introducing a system that considers off-field dynamics—such as a player’s loyalty, the influence of agents, or even the politics of footballing nations—EA Sports could transform the transfer market into a strategic battlefield.
12. Young Player Dynamics in Top Leagues: The introduction of young talent into top leagues isn’t always smooth. From media scrutiny to the weight of high expectations, young players face enormous pressure. EA Sports should incorporate the psychological strain of emerging players, where they must balance performance with the mental burden of being in the spotlight.
13. Strategic Decisions During Financial Crisis: Modern football clubs face financial pressures, often requiring tough decisions like selling star players or securing loans. These high-stakes decisions affect everything from team chemistry to long-term stability. EA Sports should integrate a financial crisis system that forces managers to navigate these difficult waters, with consequences for both short- and long-term success.
14. Mental and Physical Player Training: Modern athletes don’t just train physically but mentally as well. Integrating psychological training into Player Mode would add a layer of depth, as players could manage stress, media pressure, or conflicts within the team. By incorporating psychological resilience, EA could offer a more complete player development system.
15. Realistic Schedules and Club Travel Logistics: With modern football’s congested calendar, travel logistics, time zone changes, and fatigue management play a significant role in performance. EA Sports should create systems where teams travel across continents, deal with jetlag, and schedule their matches in ways that reflect the true pressure of modern football’s calendar.
16. Globalization of Football Challenges: Football is a global sport, and the pressure to attract global fans has led to an influx of foreign players and managers. By integrating international leagues, EA Sports can mirror the challenges that clubs face in creating cohesive, multicultural teams. Understanding these dynamics—how players adapt to new countries, languages, and playing styles—can elevate the realism of the experience.
17. Player and Manager Relationships: In real life, managers have varying degrees of relationships with their players, from mentorship to outright conflict. EA Sports should deepen this aspect, allowing for a more nuanced relationship that influences performance on the field and the player’s happiness and growth.
18. National Team Selection Dynamics: National team selection isn’t just about ability; it’s about influence, reputation, and sometimes even politics. By simulating the personal and professional pressure that goes into being selected for national duty, Player Mode can offer a more holistic, emotionally complex experience.
19. Diversity within Teams: The diversity within football teams—across race, culture, and identity—reflects the broader societal conversation. EA Sports should push the boundaries by incorporating these dynamics into team management and interactions, making team chemistry a function of both on-field talent and off-field diversity.
20. Global Football Regulations and Leadership: The landscape of football is shaped by governing bodies like FIFA and UEFA. Integrating global regulations into the game—such as changes in financial fair play, new rules, and leadership struggles—would add a layer of realism to the decision-making process and make the game feel less detached from the real world.
In conclusion, EA Sports FC 26 should not just be a football game but a reflection of the modern, globalised football ecosystem. By incorporating deeper, more realistic systems that reflect the emotional, financial, and political intricacies of the sport, EA Sports can redefine the football video game genre. The time for surface-level updates is over; it is time for a true innovation that mirrors the beautiful game's complexity. EA Sports FC 26 deserves to lead the charge for this revolution.
Sincerely,
Bintang Azhar
A Football Enthusiast and EA Sport
