Tell me how I’m supposed to enjoy this game?
I’m not a very good player and I’m older - I don’t want to spend money on a team or spend hours watching twitch or YouTube to get the “meta” tactics - I’m somehow in Div 5 rivals which should be bang average players in my opinion and I cannot win a game, people time waste at 6-2 up, my players can’t tackle, my 92 Eusebio couldn’t hit a barn door with a nuclear missile - what’s the point, where am I having any fun playing FC. Rush is toxic, the community seems pretty toxic these days because everyone thinks they’re Auzio… Yes I do have a skill issue so how am I supposed to have fun…….FC 26 Gameplay Is Broken, Boring, and Repetitive
Dear EA Support, FC 26 has become extremely boring, slow, heavy, and repetitive. After the latest updates, instead of improving the gameplay, you completely ruined it. The game was far more fun and enjoyable at launch than it is now. This has nothing to do with graphics, ping, or connection. Every match feels exactly the same. You can literally predict when you will win or lose, as if the game follows the same repeated scenario every time. Since you always say “we listen to players”, here’s the reality: Skill moves are almost useless. Long balls, crosses, and corners barely matter. Everyone plays the same way, with the same spinning and dribbling around the pitch, running in circles. There’s no creativity, no identity, no uniqueness. The only effective playstyle now is pointless spinning and dribbling in circles. Tactics used to matter. Now players are forced into one boring style instead of playing the way they enjoy. Player roles and positioning are also worse than older versions like FIFA 23. If you truly listen to the community, the solution is simple: Bring the gameplay closer to how it was at launch, fix tactics, restore real player roles, and allow different playstyles to work again. Because in its current state, FC 26 is not fun — it’s just frustrating and repetitive.
FC 26 Ultimate Team is a disaster
A fierce and pointed analysis • Incoherent playstyles and “broken” players Mbappé with the rocket who doesn’t run, other stars stripped of their defining traits: the playstyle system, marketed as innovation, has backfired. What was promised as more realism has collapsed into chaos, where top players underperform and average ones are pushed around by an AI that makes all the decisions. • The dictatorship of AI FC 26 has gone in the opposite direction of what was announced. We are no longer in control: the AI dictates movements, interceptions, and even match outcomes. The result? Games already written before kickoff, where player skill counts for nothing. We pay for the game, maybe even spend real money on packs, only to watch an algorithm play in our place. • Predetermined and frustrating matches The community has been complaining for weeks that matches always end the same way, regardless of how you play. Whether you dominate possession or create chances doesn’t matter: the outcome feels preordained. Ultimate Team has become a rigged lottery, where fun is replaced by frustration. • Technical problems and embarrassing glitches • Input lag and delayed commands make gameplay infuriating. • Severe frame rate drops and poor optimization on PC. • Outrageous bugs like the “FC Point glitch,” which let some users buy thousands of points at absurdly low prices, destroying competitive balance. • Updates that worsen stability instead of improving it, forcing EA to rush out emergency patches. • Ultimate Team in shambles The flagship mode is now the most hated. Social media is flooded with complaints: constant errors, broken matchmaking, unstable menus. EA has had to halt updates and scramble with fixes, but the core issue remains: gameplay that punishes players instead of rewarding them. • A title that betrays expectations With over 52% negative reviews on Steam, FC 26 is one of the most controversial entries in the series. Marketed as a revolution, it turned out to be a massive step backward. The community calls it a “broken game,” an “incoherent experience,” and an “unplayable UT mode.” Conclusion FC 26 Ultimate Team isn’t just disappointing: it’s a scam. We pay for a product that promises control and competition, but get a hollow shell run by AI, riddled with bugs and imbalance. We are no longer players, but spectators of an algorithm deciding winners and losers. EA has turned its flagship mode into a theater of frustration, and the community knows it: FC 26 is the chapter that destroyed fans’ trust.
This Community - Complaints, Not Always Justified - EA Please Read Too
THIS IS NOT AN AI POST - I TYPED IT ALL MYSELF Hi, Look, I know all forums around the internet are full of 99.99% of complaints about that specific product. These forums are no different. Just that if someone is complaining about a TV they will usually post a constructive post that explains the issues etc... Not just this TV is crap. So many posts on these forums just blast EA for the patches etc... And I am no EA worker, nearly all are unjustified. People mentioning about the day 1 game are completely wrong. The game was a mess on day 1. Every patch EA have introduced so far is to better the game experience and keep balancing the game based on player feedback and telemetry data they record. Some game developers release a game then you barely hear from them - You would be complaining then too right?? The fact that EA have supported this game constantly from release is a good thing. Don't be kidding yourselves thinking it's some form of torture. They are patching this game and they are telling you why. That is a big deal. Again, EA don't pay me. I am just being realistic and truthful from my own take on this. If you look at the day one game it was as "ratty" as you could get. The constant cheap spinning goals (like, nearly every goal). Jockey was completely broken. Goalkeepers were being moved all over the place in the box as a get out of jail free card for players who would not bother defending. Acrobatics were even more overpowered (Yes, I know they still need more nerfing). We had cheap corner tactic goals. It was an absolute exploit fest. (I am not saying it is perfect now either). But to list things that have been patched by EA... Kick off goals galore Corner kick exploit goals everywhere Fidget spinning goals non stop Defenders could not jockey properly Strikers we're too agile Defenders we're not agile Wingers did not make good runs Strikers did not make good runs People were still running around with CDMs and Strikers galore The gameplay was too fast The gameplay was too jerky with R1 dribbling being over the top Goalkeepers too weak at near post Rainbow flick in to volley goals everywhere (Still needs more nerfing) 10-9 Scorelines too often No tight tactical games No real strategies being used Goalkeeper in play movement Dangerous Bicycle kicks are now fouls (To put those off who try constantly) High foot - rightly so. Referee logic is now better all over the pitch People were running through the back of you and stealing the ball - This is now much better Internet Connections EA can't control everyone's connections. Half the player base think because they have 1gb fibre optic that means the gameplay should be perfect. Networking does not work that way - There is so much out of your control and out of EA's control. EA does not decide the ISP's routing and surely does not know if you are using a cheap ISP router with 50 devices hanging off it with others in your household downloading, streaming and smashing the connection while your trying to play - Unless you have a top end router with QOS settings enabled and on top of the connection you will get in game spikes, slowdowns and other random things happening through jitter etc... This online experience can't be directly compared to any other game and they all have different net code. Community I understand people are unhappy when they lose. I am too when it happens. But everyone has to look at themselves first. If the connection is bad then make sure you have checked everything your end before blasting EA. - If it is formation and tactics then try other systems. Don't just go on Reddit or X and use this stupid META stuff that DOESN'T work for everyone. Find a system that works for you. Where do you want players to be? Are you defensive minded? Are you attacking (Understand the risks). There is so much to football. If you are losing, do you change formation enough? Do you try other systems and strategies. If you thought online was toxic years ago, it's worse now. These idiots constantly posting bait on the likes of X with META formations and tactics are fools and I have no respect for them. Something works for them great. Braindead player follow and use and get little to no success and blame EA. Use your own brain and create your own football. It really annoys me. And some of this is a dig at the younger players who in all honesty come from a lazy generation of people who don't want to learn or master anything. (I know some of you do - and good for you if you learn and master) The majority of the older mature generation usually enjoy tactical battles and strategy. Not just some META rubbish. As you may be aware I am no fan of Ultimate Team (sorry EA) But I hate everything it stands for (I know it is great for EA's business - I am not silly) But I hate boosted stats, coming up against the same teams and formations constantly. - I am a Seasons player and NO it is not Real Madrid every game. It is nice to play real teams with real stats. And MOST (not all) players on Seasons play tactical, strategic football. Which is nice. Again, not everyone. You can't get 100% success in playing the Ultimate Team arcade way in Seasons against a smart player. How often is anyone really having a proper football tactical battle on Ultimate Team?? I barely ever see it. I just see people sweating trying the same cheap ratty stuff all game long every game. It's actually embarrassing to see. I'd be ashamed. I have been here for the whole journey - I know I am qualified to speak on all of the above subjects. I have played every version of this game - I have experienced the good, the bad, and the plain **bleep** ugly with this franchise. From Sega MegaDrive, PC, Playstation, PS2, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X. Not only this franchise but others including Italia 90' Kick Off, Virtua Soccer, Sensible Soccer, ISS, PES 3,4,5,6 (6 The greatest) and 2008 - Big gap from PES after this until 2017 (It was pure garbage for years - Konami dropped the ball). I watch plenty of eFootball and while it is not a rubbish game (Not a fan of the Ultimate Team model - Everyone seems to have Ruud Gullet Zzzz...) - ALSO ON THIS SUBJECT - I HATE HOW UNREALISTIC IT IS HAVEING DUPLICATE PLAYERS ALL OVER THE PITCH IN THE SAME MATCH - THERE GOES ANY REALISTIC IMMERSION RIGHT AWAY BEFORE KICK OFF But it does not look arcade like Ultimate Team. So in that I respect. UFL - Glad to see someone else having a go. But UFL is light years away from FC. So don't be fooled. What I am getting at above is experience. You can't buy that. It is a life journey. Too many of the younger generation learn through YouTube, Twitch etc... and don't play enough to learn the real feel and understanding of what needs done to truly succeed (Again, not all of you) I respect you if you take time to master your craft. From a Seasons player point of view. I have appreciation for player traits, movement, life like ways of movement from the real life player. Ways you can play football (especially against an opponent who plays football strategy). There are annoyances of course. It is not perfect. But man, when you look at some of the detail EA put in to the players and the ball physics etc... It is a masterpiece. The community is mostly the problem. Sure it is on EA to keep patching and making things as realistic as a video game allows. And last off - If you are sick and tired of Ultimate Team and the grind, the frustrations with women rinsing your men all over the pitch. Unrealistic gameplay, unrealistic player stats, unrealistic goals, Just anything arcade and you want online football still then please, just at least try Seasons mode. Pick a team. Team you support? Why not? Team you admire... Just go for it and try. Not one game and quit, Play a few and see the true differences between that and Ultimate Team. What have you got to actually lose by trying? Sorry EA, but Ultimate Team has created a more toxic community. I know it makes you loads of money from a business take - I get that and understand. But please, from a morale point of view it is pure toxic and caused a fractured broken community. If EA actually wanted to invite me to a studio to discuss the game, formations, tactics, strategies, gameplay realism. Anything really. Just contact me. Tip of advice for players I strongly believe not enough people shift around quick enough on their controllers. You have to be really busy when playing. Even if not moving towards the opponent just shift around and move players slightly. Even the most basic pressing can force them in to a poor decision. Another thing is not holding sprint down. And I mean dont touch it. Just left stick movement and calm passing. It sounds simple BUT. Not enough players do this. They go straight for sprint and run in to trouble. Slowing the game down and playing calm goes a long way too. Obviously if this is not your style I am not telling anyone how to play. Just from my point. Another thing i notice with some opponents. Some people refuse to pass backwards or sideways and only forward at all costs. Football is a game where you are not getting hurt if you have the ball. Possession is important. If a game becomes end to end like basketball it can work in your favor BUT. Sometimes you need to take the sting out and calm it down. You have to treat each game like military action. Sometimes opponent will be better than you. Someone out there will always get the edge on you. It happens in all walks of life. BUT. What you can do is adapt and Sometimes accept. You can win a game scrappy if need be. I do from time to time. I like to think I am quite a front foot dominate the pitch player BUT. Someone from time to time are either stronger at this, in a good run and confident or have me done with formation and tactics. This is when you need to adapt. Accept they will have the ball and hang in there. It becomes a game of making the most of your chances. You will lose at times and it sucks. But it can feel super rewarding when you hang in there and take the win. It doesn't have to be pretty. Football can be won in many many ways. How you adapt is super key to this. I don't expect everyone to fully agree with me. But just wanted to post this. Thanks.Gameplay on Console - New Gen XBOX
See the attached screenshot… The game at the moment is totally unplayable on console! Numerous well known content creators have said the same. When can we expect to have the same level of responsiveness as the first 2 weeks again?? this is the second post I’ve made this evening as my first one was suspiciously deleted?Console Gameplay - New Gen XBOX
See the attached screenshot, there is a well known issue with the gameplay on console being very heavy & sluggish! first 2 weeks the game was responsive, since the first patch the gameplay has been nowhere near, it’s like playing in cement. well known content creators all say the same. even on seasons it’s heavy, what on earth is this rubbish?? Games been out 3 months & you still can’t see your friends stats on the leaderboard . Shoddy game from a shoddy company“Season Replay” (Offline Mode) for FC27!
OVERVIEW: Season Replay is a premium offline game mode that I have thought abut which allows players to re enter a real football season exactly as it transpired, then change the outcome for one selected team with all other teams remain historically constrained. This mode will transform football history into an interactive "what if" experience, designed for serious fans and offline players especially for those who live where the internet is constraint. Football fans usually ask or wonder: "What if my team had done things differently?" Season replay answers that question with: Real league tables Real goal differences Real injuries and suspensions Real fixture congestion All will be preserved EXCEPT for the players team, which becomes the point of divergence. Core Differentiator Unlike live starts points or career mode: Past results are locked in AI teams are constrained by historical availability Only the players decision can rewrite the season. This creates casual realism, not just a cosmetic snapshot How It Works Season selection: Player chooses (e.g. Premier League 2023/24), Matchday (e.g. after GW10,GW20 or full season replay) The game then loads: exact league table, real goal differences, real wins, draws or losses and real fixture remaining Locked World state For all AI controlled teams: Match results are already immutable, Goal differences and points are locked, injuries are historically accurate, timed to recover on real dates, suspensions and bans persist and squad availability reflects reality. This will create a frozen historical timeline Player team exception: Only the player controlled team is exempt: You may replay matches involving your team and change outcomes, rotate squad freely, However injuries still apply, you cant undo injuries your team had in real life. Your results will ripple forward into the table affecting qualification, relegation and title races. This will create a branching timeline starting from your decisions. WHAT THIS MODE IS NOT: Not Ultimate Team Not fantasy football Not a cosmetic Live Start Point WHAT THIS MODE IS: IT IS INTERACTIVE FOOTBALL HISTORY Ending Remarks: Season Replay represents a meaningful evolution of offline football gaming. By representing real football history while empowering players to change a single variable- their team- it delivers depth, authenticity, and replay value that current modes do not. This feature leverages existing licensed data to create a fresh, emotionally engaging experience that reconnects serious fans with the sport and redefines what realism can mean in EA Sports FC. BE BLESSED!
Can anyone explain this ?
I'm in Division 7 (just!) and have just played a team of 10 icons and Jamal. He beat me convincingly as expected. We had a chat afterwards and he told me he was in Division 1 ! How can that be? How the fk can someone like me expect to get any weekly points when your matchmaking does this? Is it random?
