Bloody Hell, EA Sports FC 26 Just Scored an Own Goal with Players (Again!)
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
EA Sports FC 26 has launched to a dismal reception on Steam, with over half of players giving it negative reviews due to familiar technical issues and a controversial in-game currency glitch, prompting gentle skepticism about the franchise's direction.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're trying to cast a perfectly good spell, but the runes just refuse to align, and you end up turning yourself into a newt? Yeah, well, EA Sports FC 26 seems to be having a similar, rather unfortunate, magical mishap. It's only just landed – officially launched on September 25, 2025, according to Mohsen Baqery over at Game Rant (source: Game Rant, Original Article: EA Sports FC 26 Just Hit an Unfortunate Milestone by Mohsen Baqery) – and already it's racking up some truly dismal reviews on Steam. We're talking 52% negative, mate. Fifty-two percent! That’s more than half the folks who shelled out for this 'next-gen' footballing experience saying, 'Nah, not for me, ta.'
Now, you'd think a franchise that’s basically been the undisputed monarch of the digital pitch for decades would have this down to a fine art, wouldn't you? But here we are, watching another highly anticipated title — which, fair dinkum, was apparently one of the most wishlisted games on Steam — fumble the ball right out of the gate. While it's still pulling in the big bucks as a top-grossing title, the player sentiment is taking a proper beating. It's like watching your favourite wizard accidentally enchant his own boots to fly backwards. Repeatedly.
This isn't exactly a new phenomenon for EA's virtual football series, mind. The previous four entries have also struggled to keep PC players happy, often landing with 'Mixed' reviews. But FC 26 seems to be pushing the envelope in the wrong direction. Its predecessor, FC 25, scraped by with 51% positive reviews, and the 2023 edition managed a slightly better 56%. So, to dip below 50% positive for FC 26? That's not just a stumble; it's a full-on, face-plant-in-the-mud kind of moment.
So, what's causing all this digital discontent? Well, Mohsen’s article, and the general cacophony from the player base, points to a few familiar gremlins in the system. Top of the list is delayed inputs during online play. Now, this one's a real head-scratcher because EA had apparently claimed to have sorted this out after 'extensive testing.' Sounds a bit like saying you've patched a portal to another dimension, only for it to randomly spit out mischievous imps every five minutes. Other common complaints read like a boilerplate for PC sports game woes: frame rate drops (because who needs smooth gameplay, right?), controller connectivity problems (are we still doing this in 2025?), matchmaking imbalances, and just plain poor PC optimization. It's almost as if the PC version is an afterthought, isn't it?
But wait, there's more! Because what's a big-budget sports game without a dash of controversy, especially when monetization is involved? Just after launch, a glitch reportedly popped up in the Indonesian store. This little digital 'oopsie' allowed players to snag thousands of FC Points – you know, the virtual currency you use for Ultimate Team – for a mere fraction of their actual cost. Naturally, a good chunk of PC players, being the opportunistic digital wizards they are, apparently exploited this to gain a hefty advantage in Ultimate Team matches. The result? A fractured community, with thousands of console players apparently switching off crossplay just to avoid these super-powered, cheaply-point-boosted PC opponents. That, mate, is what happens when your in-game economy experiences an unexpected deflation – it certainly doesn't foster fair play, does it?
Now, here's the truly curious bit, the part that has my inner digital wizard scratching his head: despite all these negative reviews and the apparent widespread dissatisfaction, FC 26's concurrent player count hasn't plummeted. Nope, it's holding steady. It suggests that a lot of these unhappy campers are still logging in, still playing. Are they gluttons for punishment? Is it a classic case of 'there's nothing else quite like it'? Or is it the dreaded FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) keeping them shackled to the digital pitch, hoping against hope that future updates will somehow miraculously mend the broken bits? One can only speculate, but it paints a rather grim picture of players tolerating frustration rather than truly enjoying themselves.
Game Rant's piece, citing the past track record, doesn't sound too optimistic about a redemption arc for FC 26, especially on PC. And frankly, with EA's history of 'fixing' things that weren't necessarily broken or introducing 'features' that feel more like monetization schemes, my gentle skepticism is ringing louder than a rogue fire alarm. It seems EA is more than happy to keep kicking the ball into their own net, hoping we just won't notice. But we do, mate. We absolutely do.
So, will EA pull a wizard out of a hat and actually turn this around? Or is FC 26 destined to remain a cautionary tale of a beloved franchise struggling to find its footing in the increasingly demanding PC landscape? Only time, and perhaps a whole lot of bug fixes, will tell. But for now, it seems the beautiful game is having a bit of an ugly moment.
**Original Article Source:** Game Rant (gamerant.com) **Author:** Mohsen Baqery
Tags: EA Sports FC, Gaming News, PC Gaming, Player Reviews, Gaming Industry
Original article: Game Rant