EA SPORTS FC™ 26 | Closed Beta Feedback Update
September 8, 2025
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Hey everyone, a big thanks to all of you who took part in the EA SPORTS FC 26 Closed Beta. Your feedback has been essential in helping us identify and prioritize areas of improvement.
In this article we’re sharing what we’re currently working on based on your feedback, and when you can expect to see it implemented in game.
As part of our FC Feedback initiative, we’ll be looking to provide monthly updates like this once FC 26 launches.
ICYMI, the FC 26 Closed Beta ran from August 6 - 26, with Football Ultimate Team, Kick Off, Clubs and Career all available for testing. Below is the feedback that popped up the most during this period, coming from the Closed Beta version of the Player Feedback Portal, as well as the Closed Beta forums:
Low Driven Shot Effectiveness
Summary
We’ve seen your feedback about low driven shots feeling too effective, with goalkeepers not reacting to them appropriately at times.
What’s Next
We’re currently working on improving goalkeepers reactions to low driven shots, and we’re looking to implement this update before Early Access kicks off on September 19.
Before And After
We want to share a general idea of what you can expect.
Here’s how a low driven shot could have looked during Closed Beta and how that shot can look like in the future. Note that the goalkeeper is much more reactive to it.
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As a reminder, this is a work-in-progress and the visuals here and in the rest of this article are not necessarily 100% representative of what the final update will look like.
AI Defender Speed
Summary
Your Closed Beta feedback told us that there were some cases where AI defenders felt unnaturally fast, catching attackers too easily in some cases.
What we’ve found is that the cause of this isn’t actually the speed of AI defenders.
Instead, some ball trapping animations were slowing down the ball carrier more than intended. This means that an attacker can take too long to receive a ball and get moving, making it feel like the defenders are way too quick for them.
What’s Next
We’re planning to address these animations before Early Access and below is an example of what that can look like.
Before And After
Here’s an example of the issue you told us about and how that scenario can play out after the ball trapping animations have been addressed.
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Note that the defender’s speed hasn’t been changed at all, but the attacker has been enabled to move more quickly, giving them a chance against the rushing defender.
Attacking AI Positioning
Summary
We’ve seen your examples of AI attackers sometimes not making the runs you’d expect, or going offside frequently.
What’s Next
We’re making improvements for Early Access so players can recognize open space faster and move into it regardless of their role or familiarity. They’ll also time runs more effectively to stay onside for incoming passes.
Clubs Archetypes
Summary
While we’ve seen plenty of excitement for Archetypes in FC 26, we’ve also seen that some of you feel the progression wasn’t as satisfying as it could be during the Closed Beta.
What’s Next
To give you more customization freedom, here’s what currently working on:
- Increasing the amount of Attribute Points (AP) awarded at level 1.
- Increasing the amount of Attribute Points (AP) awarded per level.
We’re targeting Early Access for these changes and we’ll keep monitoring your feedback around them.
Manager Career Contract Renewal Negotiations
Summary
There’s been some confusion in Manager Career regarding when players are ready to start contract renewal talks.
Some of this confusion came from unintended in-game messaging that made it sound like the player is happy with their current contract, and we’ve also seen feedback on contract renewal willingness functionality.
What’s Next
We’re looking to address the text ahead of Early Access, and we’re updating how player willingness to renew works as well.
You’ll now be able to get messages on a weekly basis from the start of your save regarding players in the last 12 or 18 months of their contract, informing you if they’re looking to renew and listing their conditions. In short, you’ll know when players are ready to talk on a week by week basis.
Heavy Dribble Touches
Summary
We’ve seen feedback saying that dribble touches sometimes send the ball too far in front of the attacking, making it too easy for them to get dispossessed.
What’s Next
We’re going to be closely monitoring this topic once FC 26 is out, but for now, we’ve identified cases of this occurring in wet weather Authentic preset gameplay.
So we’ll be looking to address these wet weather touches in a Live Tuning Update closer to worldwide launch on September 26, and we’ll keep an eye on your feedback for other types of touches as they come in.
AI Call For Pass Delay
Summary
You’ve given us feedback that sometimes AI players simply take too long to pass the ball when you ask them to do so in Clubs.
Sometimes AI players could take unnecessary touches or sometimes they might even stop to think for far too long.
What’s Next
We’ve identified instances where this is happening, and we’re planning on addressing these instances ahead of Early Access.
Be A Goalkeeper Save Delay
Summary
In the Closed Beta, you told us that saves, dives, and other aspects of the Be A Goalkeeper experience could feel inconsistent and unresponsive at times.
What’s Next
We’ve investigated thoroughly with our Design Council and are preparing a slew of updates that we’re looking to release ahead of Early Access. These target the following areas but are not limited to:
- Cross claiming ability
- Save assistance
- Increasing animation coverage
FUT Tournament Match To Match Time Limits
Summary
Our intent with the match to match time limits in FUT Tournaments was to design them in a way that encouraged completing specific Tournaments that could benefit from condensed matchmaking.
But we’ve seen your feedback about this causing frustration, so we’re not going to have these match to match time limits come launch.
If in the future there’s an opportunity to hold tournaments that could benefit from these limits, we’ll let you know in advance.
AI Shot Selection
Summary
In offline modes, we’ve seen your feedback that AI players could sometimes hesitate to shoot in situations where you’d expect a shot to be beneficial.
What’s Next
We’ve identified cases of this happening and are planning to address this issue ahead of Early Access.
With this issue addressed, you can expect AI players to be less timid about taking shots when it makes sense to do so.
Share your Feedback
Thank you again to everyone who participated in the FC 26 Closed Beta and shared feedback. These insights help us make meaningful improvements before launch and beyond.
Please continue sharing your feedback in the FC Feedback Hub and join the conversation in the EA SPORTS FC Discord.
Pre-orders are now available for EA SPORTS FC 26, which will launch on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. EA SPORTS FC 26 will be available worldwide to play on September 26, 2025, with early access through the Ultimate Edition beginning September 19, 2025*.
Thanks to those who’ve provided and continue to provide feedback. Throughout the course of the EA SPORTS FC 26 season, we'll provide you with more information and updates if and when they become available. Be sure to follow @EASFCDIRECT on X and to check out the EA SPORTS FC Tracker for the latest news and updates. Stay in the conversation on all things EA SPORTS FC™ by joining our official Discord, following us on our official X, Instagram, and YouTube, and participating in the official EA SPORTS FC Forums.