The initial release of EA Sports FC 26 in its early access phase seems to be progressing smoothly, though some areas needed attention. The game’s initial update, designated version 1.0.2, is now active and introduces several enhancements and fixes.
This update primarily focuses on improving AI-controlled players and adjusting Low Driven Shots. Notably, some modifications reflect feedback received during the game’s closed beta testing period.
A key adjustment in version 1.0.2 is a rebalancing of Low Driven Shots, making them less precise when executed with maximum power. Similarly, executing complex Driven Ground Passes, such as those performed at a 180-degree angle, has become less accurate.
Numerous changes also target the AI’s behavior, especially concerning offensive maneuvers and positioning. Wingers will now proactively make attacking runs into the penalty area, and Wing Backs will no longer retreat too far into their own defensive zone when their team possesses the ball.
The update also rectifies an issue where AI players occasionally failed to make runs into open spaces when appropriate. Improvements have also been implemented to enhance their “offside awareness.” Another humorous glitch resolved by the update involved Manager Career players unexpectedly leaving the team during simulated matches. Detailed changelog information is provided below:
Gameplay
- Based on closed beta feedback, Low Driven Shots have been tuned to be less accurate when using significant power.
- The following alterations are part of AI attacking improvements shaped by user feedback:
- Increased the regularity of wingers attempting offensive runs into the box.
- Wing Backs will now maintain a more appropriate position and not drop too deep in their own half during team possession.
- Improved the offside detection capabilities of teammates.
- Resolved instances of players failing to exploit available open space with beneficial runs.
- Refined player positioning when employing low defensive depth to prevent excessive pushing upfield.
- Center Backs are now less prone to drift wide when marking central attackers.
- False Backs will now transition to defense more intelligently to maintain better defensive organization.
- A goalkeeper dive indicator now shows the direction of incoming shots.
- The Camera Pan input has been adjusted based on user feedback to mitigate button conflicts.
- As previously communicated on the EASFC Tracker, continued development is in progress to enhance the “Be A Goalkeeper” gameplay experience, with more details forthcoming.
- Addressed situations where players experienced unexpectedly heavy touches while sprinting in wet conditions, improving gameplay authenticity based on user input.
- Resolved occurrences of Ground Passes falling short of the intended recipient.
- Tuned challenging Driven Ground Passes to reduce accuracy, such as first-time passes executed at 180 degrees.
- Corrected aberrant shooting animations that sometimes occurred when attempting lace shots, resulting in unintended behavior.
Ultimate Team
The following issues have been resolved:
- Instances where players could not consistently join multiplayer matches after accepting a Co-Op invitation.
- Misaligned Player Item portraits on the Squad screen.
- A potential stability issue after completing the Onboarding process and initially viewing your Squad.
Career Mode
The following issue has been resolved:
- Players incorrectly leaving your club during calendar simulations.
General Audio and Visual
The following changes have been implemented:
- Updated several player star heads, team kits, and placeholder text/images.
The following issues have been addressed:
- [PC Only] Performance degradation when adjusting display settings in Borderless mode.
- [PC Only] Instances of controllers failing to recognize inputs. Ongoing investigation into this and other PC-reported issues, with updates provided soon.
- A series of stability issues that could occur during gameplay.
Early access to FC 26 for Ultimate Edition owners began several days ago, and the game is officially available to everyone else, or today if you are a PC user. To assist you in these early stages, we’ve developed guides such as recommendations and tactical setups for optimal formations, the top young talents to recruit in Career Mode (Wonderkids), the speediest athletes in EA FC 26, and more.