I want to start by saying that I have never reported an issue in a game before, but as a huge fan of Player Career Mode—where I only control my player on the field—I feel compelled to bring this to your attention. It surprises me that this issue isn’t discussed more because it has persisted for several years and significantly impacts the experience.
The core problem is the AI teammate behavior when playing Career Mode as a single player. My teammates’ defensive ability is incredibly poor, to the point where it feels like they are actively avoiding defending properly. Meanwhile, the opponent AI plays with relentless pressing, making it frustratingly difficult to build up plays. My defenders—despite having ratings of 88 or 89—struggle against strikers rated in the 70s, allowing them to dribble past with ease. They often defend from a distance, refusing to close down attackers, which leads to countless goals that should be preventable.
I’ve tried everything to adjust the gameplay balance—playing on Ultimate difficulty, switching to Legendary (which makes it easier to score but doesn’t fix the defensive AI), turning off Competitive Mode—but nothing changes. Regardless of the team I play for or the lineup on the field, my defenders consistently fail to put up a fight.
Additionally, I strongly believe that Player Career Mode games are scripted when controlling only your player. There are moments when my teammates suddenly become incapable of making simple passes, losing every aerial duel, and passively watching as the opponent takes control of the game. It’s especially frustrating to see 75-rated strikers score effortlessly while my 90-rated striker struggles to finish clear chances. Similarly, low-rated goalkeepers on opposing teams seem to turn into prime shot-stoppers, saving every 1v1 situation. While I understand that upsets and surprises happen in football, this occurs far too frequently to feel natural.
Another major issue I’ve noticed is a clear difficulty spike at certain points in the season. At the end of December and throughout January, every team seems to receive an unexplained boost, making it significantly harder to win games. Meanwhile, February onward plays differently. After playing through 10 seasons—and restarting multiple times due to the defensive AI—it’s evident that the later stages of the season are consistently tougher than the beginning, regardless of form or squad quality.
Player Career Mode, particularly AI teammate behavior, has been neglected for far too long. It’s disheartening to see such an immersive mode suffer from these persistent gameplay flaws. EAFC 25 has the potential to deliver an incredible Player Career experience, but these AI issues need urgent attention. Please, EA Sports, do something about this!
