EA Sports set to make major change in EAFC 26 that fans have been demanding for years

EA Sports are set to introduce a major gameplay change in EA FC 26 that fans have been requesting for years.

The latest addition to the FIFA/EA FC franchise is due to be released in September, with Jamal Musiala, Jude Bellingham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic unveiled as cover stars.

Ibrahimovic returns to the franchise as a new Ultimate Team Icon, though his overall rating and attributes have not yet been confirmed.

On Wednesday, EA FC 26's official reveal trailer was posted online - and EA say they have corrected several gameplay issues that fans have reported over the past 12 months.

Among the improvements are to make stand and slide tackles appear cleaner, an improvement to interceptions and more consistent outcomes in defensive actions generally.

But the trailer also makes reference to fewer bounce backs and deflected goals, which has been a major complaint over several years.

When goalkeepers make a save, the ball would often bounce straight back into the striker's path for an easy tap-in.

EA say they have tweaked how this mechanic works, although players will have to wait until the closed beta is released next month to test it out for the first time.

There are also changes to the passing mechanic in an attempt to make passing smoother, something which has also proved to be an issue over recent releases.

'More pace' is another user request being addressed - though fans of the franchise will surely be hoping for a better and more realistic balance between the fastest and slowest players on the game to allow a greater variety of real-life players to be competitive, particularly on Ultimate Team.

Perhaps the biggest introduction, however, is that of two different gameplay presets.

Competitive has been designed for use in Ultimate Team and features faster-paced gameplay, while Authentic is better suited to Career Mode and combines more intelligent tactics with realistic player behaviours.

EA FC 26 is due to be released on September 26, 2025 on all current-generation platforms, as well as the PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.