After spending more than a week in FC26, I’ve come to a simple but painful realization: this game feels great to play, but hard to live with.
EA has definitely made progress in gameplay design, but the early experience of this year’s title—between expensive SBCs, cautious Evolutions, and a market that refuses to move—feels heavier than ever. As a long-time player who’s been through every FIFA and FC release, here’s my take on what it’s really like to open your FUT club this year.
1. Gameplay Feels Fresh, but Defense Is Still a Mess
Let’s start with the positives. FC26’s gameplay is genuinely fun. The offensive freedom is on another level compared to the last two editions. Whether you prefer through balls, dribbles, headers, or tactical buildup, there’s finally room to express yourself again.
The downside? Defense feels like chaos. Every match turns into a goal-fest—one of those “mutual stabbing” games, where both players rack up scores that would make a basketball match jealous. EA did push out the first gameplay patch surprisingly fast, which shows they’re listening this year. But bugs remain everywhere.
The worst offender is still the controller disconnect issue on PC, which has made the game unplayable for many. Network optimization was supposed to be a major focus, yet I honestly can’t feel much improvement. It’s the same old EA experience—great intentions, slow execution.
2. The SBC Dilemma: Too Expensive to Touch
This year’s SBC environment is brutal.
EA has removed almost all the easy early resources—no more hybrid leagues, hybrid nations, or simple milestone packs. The result? My zero-spend account feels completely stuck.
Even small upgrades feel out of reach. I really wanted to complete Zhang Huang early on, but at 40K, that card basically costs a fortune for free-to-play players. I tried Dzeko for chemistry reasons, but he never fit into my squad. EA has clearly tightened the flow of resources this year, leaving many of us caught in a loop of hesitation: wanting to build, but afraid to waste.
Even for light spenders, every decision feels high risk. The result is a strange kind of paralysis—where the fear of being inefficient kills half the fun of team-building.
3. The Evolution System: Curious but Scary
The new Evolution system is EA’s big headline this year, and on paper, it sounds exciting. In practice, it’s a minefield.
I’ve always been the kind of player who dives in early to test new systems—but this time, I hesitated. Each Evolution costs coins or points, and no one really knows how the stacking or upgrades will evolve later in the season. What if I use my best fodder now, only to find out that a stronger, stackable version drops next week?
Even worse, some of the paid Evolutions are just insulting. One of them costs 10K and gives only +1 passing. EA didn’t just underdeliver—they left enough “space” for future versions, as if testing how much players would tolerate.
A friend of mine went all in early, testing duplicate Evolutions just to learn the system. Two days later, he packed a perfect player for that Evolution path—after wasting both attempts. This year, FC26 has turned cautious planners into hoarders and impulsive players into victims.
4. Rolling Cards? Forget About It
If you were hoping to roll cards like in FC 25, you can stop right there. EA has effectively killed the “infinite cycle” that allowed creative players to build coins through SBC loops.
Last year’s 82×3 was the foundation of the system; this year it’s down to 83×1. That small change completely breaks the loop. To keep rolling now, you’d need to burn your 80 and 81-rated fodder—and nobody wants to do that this early.
EA clearly wants to avoid another market meltdown, pushing players toward puzzle-style objective SBCs instead. The “England 1966” challenge is a perfect example—clever, time-consuming, and deliberately slow. It’s a smart design for long-term engagement, but for early players like me, it kills the rhythm that made the opening weeks of FUT so addictive.
5. The First Promo: Strong Cards, Stronger Prices
When the first batch of promo cards dropped, my feelings were mixed—half excitement, half disbelief.
Reijnders and Palmer instantly stood out as must-haves. The Premier League has long lacked a reliable B2B midfielder, and Reijnders fills that gap beautifully. Palmer, with his dual Chelsea links and upgraded speed, fits perfectly into mixed-gender Premier League squads. EA nailed those micro-adjustments—just five extra pace points can make all the difference.
Then there’s Nico—blistering speed, dual-foot ability, perfect for both wings. But when her price shot past a million coins, I had to laugh. Great card, terrible accessibility. EA’s curve-balancing philosophy is obvious: cap overall power, but inflate prices on the popular names. It’s manipulative—but it works.
6. Budget Gems Worth Grinding For
Thankfully, not everything is doom and gloom.
There are still hidden gems worth your time.
Martinez, the friendly-objective fullback, is an amazing free option—182cm, great pace, rocket and quick-step traits. Probably the best early-game right back I’ve used this year.
Guzan is another under-the-radar option, especially for anyone building a Messi or MLS-based squad. Three keeper traits and perfect chemistry links make him surprisingly reliable.
Then there’s Tolisso—the forgotten man of Ligue 1. With PSG dominating the league, budget options are rare, and his balanced stats make him a strong midfield anchor.
And finally, my personal favorite: O’Sullivan. Priced under 40K FC 26 coins, she plays like a mini Kante—quick, tough, smart in positioning, and fantastic at distributing. If you’re building a mixed MLS setup with Rodman or Smith, she’s a must-have.
7. Final Thoughts: EA’s Right Idea, Wrong Pace
After a full week of grinding, I’m left with mixed emotions. FC26’s gameplay is genuinely enjoyable—the best it’s been in years. The ball control, offensive dynamics, and trait balance all show clear progress.
But the rest of the experience feels stuck in first gear. EA’s effort to slow down progression has come at the cost of player momentum. Expensive SBCs, hesitant Evolutions, and a locked-down market all make the early game more frustrating than rewarding.
I get what EA is trying to do—stretch the season, reduce inflation, and make content last. But if the opening weeks feel like a chore, many players won’t stick around long enough to see that vision pay off.So if you’re still hesitating about FC26 SBCs or unsure whether to try your first Evolution, here’s my advice: wait, watch, and plan carefully.
FC 26 is shaping up to be a marathon, not a sprint—and only the patient ones will survive the grind.
