EA has finally dropped a major update to kickstart the season. The Holiday Update for EA SPORTS FC 26 is finally here. This major patch will be released in the coming days, bringing key improvements across the game.
Based on player feedback, developers are updating goalkeepers for more authentic play. The update also introduces Classic XI Teams to Kick Off and significant upgrades to both Career Mode and Clubs.
Goalkeeper Rework: The Focus on Authenticity
The most impactful change in the Holiday Update targets goalkeeping mechanics. Developers listened closely to community feedback regarding Goalkeeper Movement and its impact on the game’s authenticity. This is why they have worked hard to deliver the FC 26 Goalkeeper update for the fans.
Movement and Rush Changes
The manual control of keepers has been significantly tuned. The key change is the greatly reduced movement speed and the overall amount of ground covered when using Manual Goalkeeper Movement in open play.
- Intent: While goalkeeper movement is meant to be a strategic way to defend, developers recognized that the mechanic felt inauthentic and was being over-relied upon by players.
- Removal: The update also removes the Goalkeeper Rush To Center mechanic from open play. This was removed because it was being used as another method of goalkeeper movement that further reduced authenticity. (Credit: EA)
First Time Shot Fixes
Developers also addressed feedback that goalkeepers weren’t dealing with first time shots as well as they should. The update specifically addresses an issue that sometimes caused goalkeepers to react poorly to first time shots.
Better Career Mode Experience
FC 26 Career Mode continues to expand with new weekly Live Challenges and Snapshots. This update brings several functional and usability improvements based on player feedback.
- Contract Willingness: The Squad Hub now includes a new field indicating a player’s willingness to extend their contract.
- Streamlined Hub: A new tab has been added to the Manager Live Hub. This streamlines the process for starting a new Live Start Point and Manager Live save. It also provides quicker access to previously earned retro kits rewards.
- Player Career: In Player Career, the Player Archetype preview tile now displays both current XP and the XP needed to reach the next level. The creation flow now displays Recommended Archetypes instead of just Attributes.
- Quality of Life: Shortcut selections are now remembered automatically when exiting the switcher menu. The update also fixes an issue that prevented replacing a club other than your favorite team in Create Your Club.
Clubs Overhaul: Level Cap and CAM Rating
The Clubs mode receives two major structural changes in the Holiday Update.
Archetype Max Level Increase
The FC 26 Clubs Max Level is being significantly increased from 60 to 75. Players will now have up to 475 Attribute Points to use.
- Boosts: The AXP Instant Boost’s cap has been raised from the original 25 level cap up to level 40.
- New PlayStyle: The update introduces a new customizable PlayStyle slot. It also introduces a signature PlayStyle that upgrades into a PlayStyle+ once you hit level 75. (Credit: EA)
CAM Match Rating Adjustment
Developers also addressed feedback surrounding inflated CAM Match Ratings. The update will adjust the weights for CAM match actions. This is intended to align CAM Match Ratings more accurately with other positions across Clubs. The goal is to more accurately reflect a CAM’s performance and reduce cases of potentially inflated ratings. This change will go live soon after the Holiday Update via a Server Release.
Ultimate Team and Kick Off Excitement
The update also introduces new ways to engage with Ultimate Team and Kick Off.
- Rush Rematch: A new rematch function is coming to Ultimate Team Rush. This allows groups to vote to opt in and keep playing Rush matches with their current group. Players who opt out return to the menus.
- Classic XI in Kick Off: The Holiday Update introduces a selection of classic teams in Kick Off and Kick Off Rush. Players can relive former glories with iconic European clubs. You can also play with an assortment of legendary figures with Classic XIs from Europe’s biggest leagues.
Status Updates and Visual Flair
The development team continues to address core gameplay concerns and introduce cosmetic updates.
- AI Defending: Developers confirmed they are actively testing further AI defending adjustments internally. They plan to share an update or make a change in early January, as players have voiced concerns that AI defending feels too strong in certain situations.
- Visuals: Seven new player star heads and one updated manager star head are coming to FC 26. Updated likenesses include Premier League players Jarrod Bowen, Granit Xhaka, Jack Harrison, and Rayan Aït-Nouri. The main menu will also receive a festive transformation with falling snow to reflect the holiday spirit.
Happy Holidays!
This will be all for the Holiday Update in FC 26. The developers at EA are working really hard to ensure fans have something look forward. Moreover, the FC 26 Goalkeeper update just shows how carefully the devs are listening to fans. So this holiday season dive in the FC 26 Career Mode as the experience will feel much better.