Why EA Must Fix Ultimate Team's Play Style Chaos In FC 26
The current PlayStyle system in Ultimate Team has descended into total chaos. Lacking any clear logic or foundation, the mechanic has become a breeding ground for game-breaking exploits rather than tactical variety. As we look towards FC 27 it is not enough to just add new animations; EA must establish a consistent and stable framework to fix this broken system once and for all.
Clubs vs Ultimate Team: The Logic Gap
When you dive into Clubs mode, you immediately find a clear, transparent framework governing how a player acquires a PlayStyle. Conversely, this foundational logic is completely abandoned in Ultimate Team. In Clubs, there are strict prerequisites; for example, to unlock the Silver 'Finesse Shot' PlayStyle, a player is required to meet specific attribute thresholds: a minimum of 80 Vision, 75 Finishing, and 80 Curve. This system creates a direct correlation between stats and abilities—a standard that is bafflingly absent in Ultimate Team.
To illustrate this disconnect, we can look at a prime example like Jairzinho. His attributes clearly exceed the logical requirements found in Clubs, boasting 89 Vision, 92 Finishing, and 81 Curve. By all metrics, he should possess the Silver Finesse Shot, yet he has been arbitrarily denied it.
In stark contrast, we have a bronze player like Matty Smith, who is inexplicably gifted with the Silver Finesse Shot despite having abysmal stats that fail to meet any reasonable criteria: 50 Vision, 58 Finishing, and 51 Curve. This comparison exposes a fundamental flaw: in Ultimate Team, a player's actual abilities often have zero correlation with their assigned PlayStyles.
Stats vs PlayStyles: Restoring the Balance :
Currently, PlayStyles exert an exaggerated influence on card viability, market value, and in-game performance, often rendering base stats irrelevant. Take a top-tier card like Ronaldo as an example; despite his elite status, if he lacks a passing PlayStyle, his distribution on the pitch can feel surprisingly poor, often killing the attacking tempo or breaking down build-up play entirely. If this affects the game's best players, the issue is exponentially worse for lower-rated cards.
On the flip side, we see the illogical power of Evolutions, where a Bronze player can be upgraded to possess a Gold Finesse Shot, suddenly executing curls better than the world's best strikers.
Example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4bYuwhjcVg|
A summary of this video can be found in Attachment
EA must prioritize realism by toning down the dominance of PlayStyles, returning them to a subtle enhancement role similar to the classic 'Traits' system, rather than the defining factor of a player's quality.
