eSports have been growing for years, but to be honest, the focus of its growth was not on football simulations. With EA Sports FC 26 that’s about to change. EA Sports have been steadily improving its football simulation game previously known as FIFA and now as EA Sports FC. The best part about the improvements made with the most recent iteration is that it is getting rather close to the real game of football. Here’s what’s happening with the new release that you should look forward to if you’re a fan of both real football and its EA Sports simulation.

Competitive & Authentic Gameplay

Let’s start from the beginning. The new EA Sports FC 26 comes in two suits, Competitive and Authentic. For players who only play ‘friendlies’ this is good news to hear. For all of you playing the game as an eSport with a high level of competition we’re talking about a revolution. So, what’s the difference you might be wondering. Here it is:

• Competitive Mode: For players enjoying the previous versions and the game’s focus on balance, responsiveness and speed, this is your cup of tea. It is good enough for eSports, don’t get us wrong, but it’s not too far away from the last edition. The game is rewarding toward players adept in timing the players, having skills, as it comes with faster transitions and sharper animations.
• Authentic Mode: On the other side of the spectrum you’ll find the much coveted Authentic gameplay. In this mode the speed is taken out of the game. Not entirely, of course, but just enough to add game the much needed realism. So far, we do not see it as being realistic for this mode to be used in competitive eSports EA Sports FC tournaments, but it is definitely seen as where the future of football simulation is going.

It would appear that everyone is working on bridging the gap between eSports and real football and here’s how Stake brings the virtual pitch closer. As far as EA Sports go, here’s what else has been done.

Player Identity & Dribbling Refinement

When it comes to football as an eSports, it has been often critiqued for being too predictable. Once the top players master the game, they put the same tactics and the same moves on repeat. It’s what’s called learning the game meta and putting it to work. Exploitation of the game’s system will no longer be as easy. This was not seen as a small matter by EA Sports so they’ve decided to address it. Thus, the game mechanics in regard to dribbling have been altered, improved, and made better overall, which led to playstyle imminent changes.

When you play the EA Sports FC 26 you will experience smooth dribbling as never before, and suitable to game and player’s context on the field, rewarding a skilled player’s creativity, and taking the focus from pace exploitation. New play styles are focused more on player’s real life traits, making each of them more unique, and that’s why the difference between using Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, Vini Jr., or Kenan Yildiz will be felt.

Those who look FC 26 or FIFA previously through the eSports lenses this is no small matter. Players who are quick to learn the new in game changes will be the ones setting themselves apart from competitors. In the future small moves, quick dribbling, and unique skills will be a game changer in eSports the same way they’re in real life. With these changes EA Sports intends to make their top product more endearing to watch and more dynamic to play.

Big Brain Goalkeepers

No more Jens Lehmann’s type of blunders from goalkeepers, or is there? Fair play to the Germany and Arsenal legend, he made one monstrous career intertwined with few monumental mistakes. With the latest AI integrated into FC 26 goalkeepers will be given a new suit to wear. Bigger gloves? No! More realistic everything GK? Yes! Artificial intelligence was used to make the entire game more realistic, but the goalies have been given special attention. Scoring goals at will is equally infuriating as not being able to score sitters due to inhuman effort from a goalie.

With FC 26 GKs are now able to position themselves more realistically, handle the one on ones as intended and how the real life goalkeepers are trained to do, to show their reflexes or lack odd them, top notch animations dedicated to GKs looks and moves, as well not being prone to conceding from near post, and other similar exploits seen in the past. As far as eSports are concerned this is great, as the results will now be fairer with less holes to exploit but the most skilled players, or spammers who know only trick moves.

Broadcasting Sphere

As far as top tournaments are concerned, all games are broadcasted, and the audience watching the games is growing. Presentation matters, and EA Sports FC 26 made sure to make improvements in this domain too. First of all, the new broadcast style camera is relying on angles that make each game as close to a real life broadcast as possible. Also, and you’ll love it, the commentary quality has been elevated, and parts of it can now hit the context of the game better than ever. Lastly, the crowd has also improved and both the celebrations and overall reactions have been improved a few notches.

While many players who are bigger fans of the game and not of the sport, the changes in the above mentioned departments might be less important, but for everyone who cares for both, we know just how important the commentary is for the full immersion into the game. Now that’s improved, and made more dynamic and responsive to the on field action, it guarantees a new level of the game’s overall popularity.

After everything we’ve said, and while it’s not too much, you can understand that the EA Sports FC 26 is more than just another FIFA iteration. It has laid the foundation for an eSports/football intersection which will in the future lead to something much bigger.