EA Sports FC 26 is almost out, and players can not wait. This time around, devs have paid special attention to player feedback and promise to bring an experience everyone can enjoy. This also means focus on improving the early access in FC 26 and balancing the Ultimate Team. As a result, this year of Ultimate Team is going to be some of the best. In a recent patch notes update, developers have revealed that this year, they are introducing a fresh and balanced Ultimate Team.
Therefore, in this guide on FC 26 Early Access, we will break down all the new content players can experience. We will go over the new progression curve and a refined chemistry system.
Early Access & the Cornerstone of Your Squad
For those with Early Access, the journey begins with the celebratory Daily Knockout Tournament, marking the return of a beloved game mode. This is your chance to compete daily for rewards and a coveted spot in the Early Access finale tournament in FC 26 Ultimate Team. Beyond the knockout rounds, Early Access will also include the first of the season’s content releases, such as the initial Team of the Week (TOTW) squads, new Evolutions, and the first FC 26 World Tour and Squad Foundations releases.
Players can also expect Cornerstones right after the release of Early Access in FC 26. This campaign is designed around the major players in your team. These can include leaders, long-term transfers, or young talents emerging from their clubs. This can provide permanent upgrades for your players and even enhanced chemistry links. As a result, players will be able to build a squad that plays together perfectly.
The Pace of Progression: A Slower Power Curve
Perhaps the most significant change in FC 26 is the intentional slowing of the power curve. Players often found that last year’s game became a race to keep up with an ever-escalating wave of overpowered cards. In FC 26, the focus is on longevity and strategic team building.
Base Items Remain Relevant
Rare Gold, ICONs, and Heroes will hold their value deeper into the year. Weekly campaign items will feature more “lateral” upgrades—stat boosts that don’t immediately make top-tier base cards obsolete. This means your prized possessions from the start of the game won’t become redundant as quickly. For example, you won’t see Player of the Month (POTM) SBCs in Early Access this year, and Showdown SBC winner upgrades will be a more measured +1 OVR and Role++ upgrade for Season 1.
Weekly Campaigns
While you’ll still see new campaign squads dropping regularly, the average boosts will be more tempered. Big campaigns like Black Friday, Team of the Year, and Team of the Season will still deliver major stat increases, but the content in between will be designed to expand your squad-building options rather than simply replace your existing players.
Players will also be able to experience this change in rewards from Champs and Rivals mode. This reward system is designed to match the steady progression for FUT in FC 26. The main goal is to make every player’s grind valuable, so their long investment in this game can be reflected. Players with Early Access in FC 26 will be able to experience this first.
The Chemistry Refresh
To support the slower power curve, Chemistry Styles have also been rebalanced. The old 4/8/12-point boost system is gone, replaced with a more subtle 3/6/9-point model. This narrows the stat gaps between players and makes the boosts from a Chemistry Style less dramatic.
- Pace is No Longer King: The most notable change is a direct response to player feedback. Applying a pace-heavy Chemistry Style now comes with a trade-off in other attributes, preventing every player from becoming a blistering speedster.
- Diversity of Styles: Non-pace-focused styles have been re-tuned to give bigger boosts to key stats like Composure, Reactions, and Stamina, encouraging you to build your team around different playstyles and attributes.
World Tour is coming to FC 26
Finally, Seasons will take you on an FC 26 “World Tour Through History.” Each season will be themed around a historic international tournament, culminating in Season 8’s “Festival of Football.” This fresh approach ties the game’s progression directly to real-world football stories. You’ll see host and winning nation players featured in the Season Ladder, SBCs, and Objectives, while the most influential stars from each tournament will be celebrated with a brand-new seasonal Player Program.
Here are all for our guide on FC 26 Early Access. Players with early access to the game will be able to try out the game before it is released to a wider audience. However, this also means that the players who have early access will get to try some content exclusive to them. So get yourself ready for the exciting new season of FC 26 and FUT.