UPDATE — SOLVED
After extensive troubleshooting, the issue was finally resolved by clearing the DirectX Shader Cache stored by Windows (not the AMD shader cache — a different cache entirely).
The fix:
This cache is separate from AMD Software shader cache and from the EA SPORTS FC 26 AppData folder. It stores DirectX shader compilations at the Windows level and can become corrupted over time, causing severe FPS drops, slow motion, and stuttering specifically when 3D player models load (packs, match loading screens).
Why deleting AppData\Local\EA SPORTS FC 26 helped temporarily: It forced the game to recompile shaders from scratch, which worked around the corrupted D3DSCache temporarily. But the root cause remained until D3DSCache was cleared directly.
If you have the same symptoms:
Try clearing %LOCALAPPDATA%\D3DSCache first before reinstalling the game, drivers, or EA AntiCheat.
UPDATE 2 — Partial fix, root cause identified
After further testing, we found that clearing %LOCALAPPDATA%\D3DSCache + deleting %LOCALAPPDATA%\EA SPORTS FC 26 and restarting PC helps temporarily, but the issue returns specifically when opening packs in Ultimate Team.
Reproducible pattern:
This means the root cause is how EA FC 26 compiles and writes DirectX shaders when loading 3D player models during pack opening. The game appears to corrupt the DirectX shader cache in real time during this process.
This is a reproducible bug:
So there's still not a permanent solution for this? Thank you though for the efforts. Appreciate it
My theory is that the issue is related to DX12 shader compilation — the game corrupts the DirectX cache when loading 3D player models. You can try adding -dx11 as a launch parameter in EA App game properties to force DirectX 11 instead. I haven't tested this myself yet but it might bypass the DX12 issue completely.
