Newcomer

13 hours ago

Players Are Investing Real Money Into Features That Still Don't Work

To the EA SPORTS FC Development Team, Community Managers, and EA Leadership

I am writing as a dedicated EA SPORTS FC player who genuinely loves football and wants this franchise to succeed.

However, nearly one month after FC 27's September 25, 2026 release, I am increasingly frustrated by serious problems affecting some of the game's core features.

I have invested considerable time developing several different Archetypes, playing Career Mode, and participating in The Grounds.

I have also spent actual money purchasing boost packs to accelerate the development of my Goalkeeper and defensive Archetypes.

This is an important distinction.

I am not simply complaining about a game that occasionally frustrates me. I am raising concerns about a product in which I have invested both my time and additional money, only to find that fundamental features do not consistently work as advertised.

I want to explain the problems, their consequences, and some possible solutions.

1. The Grounds 11v11: Position Selection Is Broken

Severity: High — Core Gameplay and Paid Player Investment Affected

One of the most frustrating issues is the 11v11 Drop-In matchmaking system assigning players to positions they did not select.

For example, on October 22, I entered matchmaking intending to play Goalkeeper, but the game assigned me to Right Wing.

This has not been an isolated experience.

Players selecting defensive positions and other specialized roles can also be assigned somewhere entirely different.

Why this is unacceptable

FC 27 encourages players to create and develop specialized Archetypes.

These Archetypes require time, progression, Attribute Points, strategic decisions, and, for players like myself, optional financial purchases.

I have personally purchased boost packs to help level my Goalkeeper and defender builds.

I made those purchases because I wanted to develop these players and use them in their intended positions.

What is the value of purchasing progression boosts for a Goalkeeper when matchmaking cannot reliably let me play Goalkeeper?

The same question applies to defenders.

A player who has invested money in developing their defensive Archetype should not load into a match and be unexpectedly forced to play an attacking position.

I understand the need for matchmaking flexibility, but assigning someone to an entirely different role without their approval defeats the purpose of specialized builds.

Steps to reproduce

Enter The Grounds and select 11v11 Drop-In.
Choose Goalkeeper as the preferred position.
Equip the appropriate Archetype.
Enter matchmaking and load into the match.
Observe that the player can be assigned to an unrelated outfield position, such as Right Wing.

Expected: The game should respect the selected position or request permission before assigning an alternative.

Actual: The player can be placed in an unrelated position without meaningful control over the assignment.

Suggested fixes

Introduce position-locked matchmaking.
Allow players to choose primary and secondary positions.
Provide a strict-position option, even if it requires a longer matchmaking queue.
Never assign a Goalkeeper Archetype to an outfield role without confirmation.
Display actual positions before loading into a match.
Allow players to decline an unwanted position without being penalized.
Add pre-match checks that verify assignments against accepted player preferences.

I have sometimes been able to work around this problem by joining a team, but Drop-In matchmaking should work independently.

EA acknowledged the position-selection issue earlier in October and indicated that a potential fix was being tested.

As of October 23, I am still experiencing the problem.

Players deserve a clear update on why this problem continues and what is being done to resolve it.

2. Paid Boost Packs Create an Additional Responsibility

I want to address the financial aspect separately because I believe it deserves attention from both the developers and EA leadership.

I understand that purchasing optional boosts does not guarantee victories, improved matchmaking, or a particular outcome in a match.

That is not what I am asking for.

However, when EA offers paid items that accelerate progression, players should reasonably expect to be able to use that progression within the game modes for which their characters are designed.

My purchases helped develop my Goalkeeper and defensive builds.

I am not claiming my purchased boosts disappeared. I am saying that the matchmaking problem prevents me from reliably enjoying the specialized characters I spent money developing.

That distinction matters.

If a customer spends money developing a specific role, the game should offer a reliable way to play that role.

What I would like EA to consider

Prioritize bugs that interfere with the intended use of paid progression.
Communicate how affected purchases and player investment are being considered during bug investigations.
Consider appropriate goodwill compensation or remedies for players materially affected by prolonged issues.
Make position-specific limitations clear before customers purchase progression boosts.
Avoid releasing paid progression systems before the related core gameplay features have been adequately tested.

I am not asking for free rewards simply because I lost a match or experienced an inconvenience.

I am asking EA to recognize that players are making financial decisions based on the expectation that the game functions correctly.

That trust should be taken seriously.

3. Career Mode: Custom CPU Sliders Keep Resetting

Severity: High — Settings and Gameplay Consistency

Another major issue involves custom CPU Opponent and CPU Teammate slider settings.

I play Career Mode on Legendary difficulty and spend considerable time adjusting sliders to create a realistic football experience.

My adjustments influence defending aggression, tackling tendencies, fouls, buildup play, shooting behavior, and other aspects of match realism.

These settings are important because they help make Career Mode enjoyable and consistent.

Unfortunately, after closing and restarting the game, CPU slider values can revert to defaults.

This forces me to manually re-enter my settings repeatedly.

Steps to reproduce

Enter Player Career and open the custom gameplay settings.
Change CPU Opponent and CPU Teammate values from their defaults.
Exit Career Mode and close the game.
Restart FC 27 and reload the career.
Inspect the settings and compare the values against those previously selected.

Expected: Custom settings remain saved until intentionally changed.

Actual: Some CPU settings can return to default values after restarting.

Why this is a serious issue

I should not have to spend time configuring the same settings every time I want to play.

This problem also makes it difficult to judge gameplay consistency.

If my teammates suddenly defend differently or opponents begin behaving differently, I have to wonder whether the sliders reset again.

For players attempting to enjoy long-term Player or Manager Careers, this seriously undermines immersion.

4. Career Mode AI Needs More Realistic Decision-Making

In my Player Career experience, I have noticed situations where AI teammates react slowly to attacking threats or fail to challenge opponents advancing toward goal.

I have also encountered opponents taking unnecessary long shots despite having better passing or dribbling opportunities.

I understand that players make mistakes in real football.

But mistakes should feel natural rather than resulting from consistently passive or inconsistent AI behavior.

I would like to see improvements in defensive awareness, pressure on attacking players, off-ball positioning, shooting decisions, and tactical differences between clubs.

For those of us playing on Legendary difficulty, the challenge should come from intelligent opposition and realistic football decisions, not simply unpredictable or unnatural behavior.

5. Archetype Progression Changes Should Respect Player Investment

I recognize that EA recently adjusted Archetype Attribute Point costs and allowed players to redistribute points.

I understand balance changes are sometimes necessary.

However, players spend significant time developing their characters, learning their strengths, and creating specialized builds.

Some of us also spend money accelerating that progression.

When major progression changes occur shortly after release, it raises questions about how thoroughly these systems were tested before launch.

I appreciate that previously earned progression was preserved, but players should receive clear explanations when significant progression systems change.

I would recommend a proper Archetype planning system showing attribute costs, available progression paths, and any expected effects of major updates before players commit resources.

Paid progression makes thorough testing and transparent communication even more important.

6. The Bigger Question: Why Does EA SPORTS FC Need a New Game Every Year?

I believe this is a bigger problem than any individual bug.

Every year, EA releases another football game.

Players purchase it, create new characters, rebuild their progression, adjust their gameplay preferences, and attempt to become familiar with the new systems.

Then we spend months dealing with bugs, balance changes, and adjustments.

Before long, attention begins shifting to the next annual installment.

What if EA stopped making an entirely new football game every year and instead focused on developing one excellent football experience over three years?

I genuinely believe this is worth exploring.

Year One: Stability and Foundation

Release a polished football game with functional matchmaking, reliable Career Mode settings, tested progression systems, and stable online play.

Prioritize meaningful bug fixes, player feedback, gameplay tuning, and long-term technical improvements.

Year Two: Content and Expansion

Instead of forcing players into another full-priced annual release, update the existing game.

Introduce refreshed squads, kits, transfers, stadiums, commentary, new Career Mode storylines, and additional online competitions.

Give players more customization opportunities and meaningful content expansions.

Allow established careers and Archetypes to continue developing.

Imagine spending several real-world years building your footballer rather than losing that investment when the next annual game arrives.

Year Three: Innovation and Preparation

Continue supporting the current game while another development team works on the next major installment.

Use the additional development time to improve player AI, physics, animation systems, tactical depth, matchmaking, and Career Mode.

Then deliver a genuinely meaningful new generation of football gaming.

EA Could Still Generate Revenue

I understand EA is a business.

A longer development cycle would require a different financial model, but revenue could still come from optional season passes, customization, licensed expansions, and significant content updates.

Players could remain engaged without being required to purchase a completely new game annually.

The goal should be to keep players invested because the experience continues improving, not because another annual title is approaching.

Give players a football game worth supporting for three years, and give developers the time to build it properly.

7. What I Want EA to Do

I am asking EA to seriously consider the following:

Fix 11v11 position matchmaking as a priority. Specialized builds must be usable in their intended positions.
Fix CPU slider persistence. Custom settings should not repeatedly reset.
Recognize the impact on paying customers. Players purchasing Archetype boost packs should not be left unable to reliably play the roles they invested in.
Communicate clearly about known issues. Provide meaningful progress updates rather than leaving players guessing.
Improve pre-release and regression testing. Core gameplay features should be thoroughly tested before launch and after updates.
Give Career Mode, Clubs, and The Grounds meaningful attention. These communities deserve the same commitment to quality as other major modes.
Introduce a public issue tracker. Show which bugs are acknowledged, being investigated, in testing, or resolved.
Reconsider the annual release model. Explore a longer-term football platform that prioritizes stability, innovation, and player investment.

Final Thoughts

I want to make it clear that I am not writing this because I hate EA SPORTS FC.

I am writing because I genuinely enjoy football, creating players, developing their abilities, playing different positions, and experiencing those incredible moments the sport can produce.

There is nothing quite like making the perfect pass, stopping a dangerous attack, making a match-winning save, or scoring a last-minute winner.

These are the experiences that make people love football games.

But after investing hours into my characters, purchasing boost packs for my Goalkeeper and defenders, and repeatedly dealing with broken matchmaking and settings, I am beginning to question whether the game respects the investment players are making.

I should not have to wonder whether the game will let me play the position I selected, especially after spending money developing a player specifically for that position.

I should not have to reconfigure my Career Mode settings every time I launch the game.

And I should not feel like I am constantly waiting for basic features to work while another annual release cycle continues moving forward.

I respect the developers working on this franchise. I understand that many decisions regarding release schedules, resources, and priorities may be beyond their control.

That is why I hope this message reaches the people responsible for those larger decisions as well.

FC 27 has tremendous potential.

But potential means very little if the core experience remains unreliable.

Please stop asking players to invest more time and money into systems that are not consistently functioning as intended.

Fix the fundamentals. Respect player investment. Communicate with your community. Give your developers the resources and time necessary to deliver a polished experience.

And consider creating a football game that can grow and improve for years instead of starting the cycle all over again every September.

A loyal, paying, and increasingly frustrated EA SPORTS FC 27 player.

October 23, 2026