EA FC 26 Career Mode new features – gameplay overhaul, manager market and deeper simulation
From a new style of gameplay to a new live game mode, there are a bunch of big updates and changes coming to EA FC 26 Career Mode
Career Mode is one of the most popular ways to play EA Sports FC, but EA Sports has come under fire from the Career Mode community over the last few years for only getting minor updates, with an online career mode being the biggest request from the community. Well, after speaking with the EA FC 26 developers and getting hands-on with EA FC 26 at the EA HQ in Vancouver, I can confirm an online career mode won't be coming to EA FC 26, but there are a host of other updates being made.
As well as Career Mode, big updates have been confirmed for gameplay and Clubs in EA FC 26, while we should learn about new Ultimate Team features very soon.
Every new feature for EA FC 26 Career Mode
These are 26 changes coming to Career Mode in EA FC 26.
Authentic gameplay
Firstly, and the biggest change of all, is that the gameplay is being completely overhauled for EA FC 26 Career Mode, and I'm sure this is an update that will be seen as fantastic for the Career Mode Community. In EA FC 26, gameplay is being split into two – competitive gameplay and authentic gameplay.
Authentic gameplay applies to career mode, meaning the game will be a slower-paced, more true-to-life version of football. This helps bring more realism to the game, something which is needed in Career Mode.
Manager Live
A new Manager Live mode is coming to the game, where players can take on challenges from the real world. From winning the league to making the average age of your squad 23 or younger, there's a host of different challenges available in Manager Live.
Manager Live reflects the changing world of football across the season, with challenges either short-term or long-term, with some taking up to three seasons to complete. EA is aiming to release 150 challenges weekly for players to complete in Manager Live, with rewards on offer for completing these challenges. Some of the rewards include retro kits, which you can use for your respective team in Manager Career.
Manager Live will see a Road to Glory mode introduced in Manager Career. Road to glory is one of the most popular ways to play Career Mode, so you can now pick up rewards for playing how you usually would. Big win!
Manager Market
A manager market is also coming to EA FC 26. Using the manager market, you can see every manager's job security, what objectives they need to achieve, and their tactics. Doing this also helps if you're looking for a job, as you can see what jobs may be available soon, the job expectations, and the likelihood that you will be hired.
Managers can be fired, retire, or leave clubs in Manager Career, meaning we can expect to see a lot more managerial changes in EA FC 26. Caretaker managers are being introduced as well, so if a manager leaves for whatever reason, a caretaker will become manager, and if they do well, they can stay at the club as the permanent manager.
Each manager will have a profile that includes a rating and tactical vision. For example, if Diego Simeone left Atletico Madrid, the club will look for a new manager of a similar rating and tactical vision. If no managers with the same vision are available, the club will hire someone else, and potentially change its tactics and club philosophy for good.
You can edit the names and details of managers you aren't controlling. There won't be a free agents section for managers in EA FC 26 due to licensing issues, so you may need to try and find Jurgen Klopp's doppelganger and rename him if you want to add him to the game.
Unexpected events
Another new feature called Unexpected Events is coming to EA FC 26, and this may be my favourite new addition. There are set to be about 40 Unexpected Events at launch, with these throwing challenges the manager's way out of the blue.
Some of the examples of Unexpected Events include injuries on international duty, a chairman wanting to get involved in tactics and transfers, and a Tottenham-esque Lasagne-gate, where a chunk of the squad gets food poisoning. It's about how you react and overcome these challenges.
Icons and Heroes
Icons and Heroes are coming to Manager Career Mode. They were introduced in EA FC 25 for Player Career Mode, but now, as rewards from Manager Live challenges, you can earn Icons and Heroes as playable players for your Manager Career.
They are delivered across the season, with up to 200 icons and heroes available across the 10 FC Seasons. When you unlock these Icons and Heroes, they will be signed with their prime rating and at their prime age.
Deeper stats and smarter AI
You can now view deeper stats in EA FC 26, so for the first time, we can view all of the player and team stats from other leagues. This includes top goalscorers, assists, clean sheets and even average rating. The new deeper stats feature will change how scouting works. Select up to five leagues for deeper simulation, and then view these players' detailed stats to help with scouting. You can even scout directly from the deeper stats page.
AI transfers will be smarter in EA FC 26. Say, for example, Liverpool want to sign a right-back in the transfer market. Well, they won't go and sign five of them in one window now, like they sometimes did in EA FC 25.
Archetypes
Archetypes are coming to FC 26 Player Career Mode, replacing the current player progression system. Archetypes define how your player grows in-game, with this also replacing the skill tree in Clubs.
There are 13 archetypes available from launch. These are:
Magician
Finisher
Target
Recyclier
Maestro
Creator
Spark
Progressor
Boss
Engine
Marauder
Shot Stopper
Sweeper Keeper
How you start a Player Career Mode is changing. Personality types remain, but when you start the game you will choose your origin story, physical attributes, club, archetype and position. Some new origin stories are also being introduced, including Rising Star and Hand of God (which is for goalkeepers).
And everything else
Be a Goalkeeper has been overhauled, meaning there are more controls and commands available to use if you are a goalkeeper in Player Career Mode. A few more menu shortcuts have been added to improve the quality of life for players in-game, while player roles can now be changed in Manager Career Mode without influencing the practical vision.
Youth tournaments can now be played in different stadiums in different sizes, adding a bit of variety and more importance to bigger games, and after being added in EA FC 25, more Live Start Points will be added in EA FC 26.
Lastly, Online Career Mode will not be coming in FC 26. We were told by EA Sports Line Producer Andreas Wilsdorf that it's something that's always being brainstormed in the background, but EA didn't consider it for EA FC 26.
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