Is The New FC 26 Significantly Different From FC 25?

Over the years, FIFA fans have made no secret about just how disappointing some of their games have been. For EA Sports, it can act as a blessing and a curse. On one hand, they have been able to completely shore up the market with their own brand, leaving their competition in their wake, and have afforded themselves the luxury of total market dominance.

However, as is the case in so many other industries, when we see a monopoly, it can result in the market leader becoming sloppy, taking their position for granted, and, in the case of EA Sports, knowing they can churn out a new FC game every marginally different year, and charge $100 every time they do so.

Without putting too much of a negative spin on things, this seems to be the general consensus when it comes to FC Games, but now that the newest release has been out for a while. We have all had a chance to sit down and play it. Are there elements of the game that have changed significantly, or is it just FC 25 with slightly better graphics?

Rating The Online Season Format

One of the many positives EA Sports has been able to harness over the last decade is its ability to champion online gaming. It’s an approach that we first saw mastered in other areas of gaming, such as slot gaming.

In the early days of online slot gaming, the global audience we see today was still developing. EA Sports, for example, built its strong reputation primarily in North America, with major offices in the US and Canada. Before the internet era, gaming markets were largely fragmented, and players in different regions often had access to very different experiences.

By the early 21st century, however, online slots in Canada and other regions started to reflect the same designs, features, and themes found around the world. While there were still some local regulations and minor differences, the industry had become truly global. This international growth of online slot gaming showed how digital connectivity could unify audiences - a concept that companies like EA Sports would later embrace to expand their own online gaming platforms.

The online seasons format in FC 26 is essentially the same as in the predecessor, and to give them credit, it didn’t need much change. The 10 division format works, and although it takes a bit longer to connect to a game, this is because of better matchmaking latency, which means you’re playing against somebody closer to you geographically.

Competitive vs Authentic

The biggest difference EA Sports has introduced is the alternating game modes you can choose from. Those skeptics, such as myself, thought it was more of an announcement than a significant gameplay change. Having sampled them both over the last few weeks, and given that the core engine remains the same, I can’t say there’s much of a difference between them.

The leap from FIFA 11 to FIFA 12 was one of the most significant gameplay changes we’ve seen in football gaming. While it didn’t quite make the list of the best video games of the 2010s, it was a time when EA Sports had competition breathing down its neck. It felt as though the changes were emerging from a brimming creative department that was actually feeling the heat, rather than a headline-grabbing move that doesn’t actually feel that real once you have bought the game and tested out the changes in a practical gaming environment.

We’ve seen how easily some of the top eSports gamers, like Zhasik, have been able to switch to FC 26. While they definitely have a lot more skills than the average player, you’d think they’d find the transition more challenging if there was anything significantly different about the gameplay or the design.

Offline Changes

There was a time when EA Sports had to put a lot of effort into developing its manager mode. In the days before the internet, it was the main focus. However, as FUT and online seasons now dominate how the game is played, it is another area that has become mundane and repetitive.

AI in video gaming is going to result in a hugely transformative change. Still, the underwhelming additions in FC 26 are not dissimilar from FC 25, nor are the changes to the overall manager mode and the way the computer operates, depending on the varying levels of difficulty.

Aside from the soundtrack, which includes an eclectic mix of music from bands like Wet Leg and HAIM, and the slight tweaks to graphics, players, teams, and stadiums, the game is mostly the same. There’s nothing about FC 26 that is too different from FC 25, and if you are a fan of footy games, you’re not going to be disappointed, but the price may not be worth it, as you are basically buying the same game with better graphics.