Latest news with #EASportsFC25
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Fans fear both EA Sports FC 26 cover stars have been hit by FIFA curse
Football fans are beginning to worry that the FIFA cover star curse has returned, as both EA Sports FC 26's cover stars are already injured. Although they had already leaked beforehand, the cover stars for EA Sports FC 26 were officially revealed this week, alongside the first details and gameplay footage for the upcoming football game. England and Real Madrid player Jude Bellingham is once again the main star (having also been on EA Sports FC 25's cover), but he's now joined by former teammate and Bayern Munich player Jamal Musiala. However, in an unfortunate coincidence, both players are currently unable to play football in real life and will be out of action even after EA Sports FC 26 launches on September 26. Despite suffering a shoulder injury in November 2023, Bellingham has continued to play and only recently underwent surgery. In fact, the news of his problems dropped the same day as the EA Sports FC 26 announcement and Bellingham's not expected to return for another four months or so. Aside from being out of the game by the time of EA Sports FC 26's release, he's also expected to miss the start of the 2025-2026 season. As for Musiala, he was injured during the Club World Cup earlier this month, when Bayern Munich played against Paris St-Germain, where he suffered both a broken leg and a dislocated ankle. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. He has since undergone surgery, but this still means he's out of the game and, just like Bellingham, isn't expected to be ready to return until November 2025 at the earliest. While it's unlikely this will have any impact on EA Sports FC 26's sales, the timing is extremely unfortunate from a marketing standpoint, now that the two players EA picked to headline the game are on hiatus. We've already seen some fans suggest the FIFA cover curse is at work. If you're unfamiliar with it, there have been frequent instances of football players who appear on the cover of FIFA (what EA Sports FC used to be called) games suffering misfortunes. It hasn't happened every year and it has not always been injuries (FIFA 21 star, Kylian Mbappé, for instance, went on to score no goals at the UEFA European Championship in 2021), but enough examples have warranted the curse's inclusion on Wikipedia's list of sports related curses. However, Bellingham was injured in late 2023, so EA really should have been aware he'd have to undergo surgery at around this time… not that that stopped the company sticking him on the cover of last year's game too. More Trending For what it's worth, no such misfortunes appears to have befallen Swedish player Zlatan Ibrahimović, who retired in 2023 and graces the cover of EA Sports FC 26's Ultimate Edition. Let's hope he doesn't somehow break any bones in the coming months. Fans of the Madden NFL games (which EA also handles) have their own superstition about that series' covers, believing any player who appears on it is doomed to suffer an injury. In an old 2007 Kotaku interview, the EA Sports' vice president of brand marketing at the time, Chris Erb, revealed that the curse chatter did little to dissuade footballers from asking to appear on the next Madden NFL cover. 'We've spoken to plenty of guys from within the league, and they don't think it's a jinx,' said Erb. 'The players, who we work closely with, they definitely don't think it's a jinx, because they know better than anyone how easy it is to get injured, or to have a bad season.' Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: EA Sports FC 25 costs just £15 in huge PlayStation Store summer sale MORE: Bayern Munich hijack Arsenal's transfer move for £68m star after Jamal Musiala injury MORE: Everyone should play Rematch: the best new football game in years – Reader's Feature
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
EA Sports FC 26 tackles the haters in first gameplay trailer
Jude Bellingham is joined by Jamal Musiala on the cover of EA Sports FC 26, which claims to be the most community-driven entry yet. EA Sports FC 25 may have still been a sales juggernaut in the grand scheme of things but, as noted by EA in January, it 'underperformed' when compared to its predecessor. While EA wasn't explicit about what it thought the reasons for this was, the reveal trailer for its successor, EA Sports FC 26, makes it clear, with an emphasis on player flexibility and community feedback. The trailer directly addresses various fan complaints, introducing two distinct gameplay presets in Competitive and Authentic. The former comes with faster passing, smarter keeper rebounds, and more direct control, while the latter promises the most 'true-to-football experience ever' and is tailored to the Career mode. Other aspects of the gameplay have been reworked, including improved dribbling fluidity, 're-tuned run curves' and overhauled AI positioning. As for the single-player experience, there are new Manager Live challenges in the Manager Career mode, which offer the chance to take on real-world scenarios and alternative storylines throughout the season. The other key addition are Archetypes, which introduce new classes to Clubs and Player Career, and the ability to upgrade player attributes and unlock perks. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. As leaked prior to the reveal, England and Real Madrid player Jude Bellingham is back on the cover for the standard edition of EA Sports FC 26, only this time he's joined by his former teammate and Bayern Munich player Jamal Musiala. 'It's really nice to share this moment with Jamal, as a reflection of how far we've come,' Bellingham said. 'I remember our times rooming together in the England Youth team, we'd play the game all the time. Where I'm from, everyone knows the game, everyone plays it and talks about it so much. I'm grateful to be given the opportunity to be on the cover again.' Speaking about being on the cover for the first time, Musiala said: 'When I found out I'd be on the cover of FC, it was such a crazy feeling. I thought, how could I tell my little brother? He's a big fan of the game, so this will be a nice surprise for him. 'It's something I always wanted growing up and it's such a big part of football culture. Who knows, maybe I can still beat Jude at FC.' For those who purchase the Ultimate Edition, retired football legend Zlatan Ibrahimović graces the cover. This version, which costs £99.99, comes with up to seven days early access, a season one premium pass, along with other goodies. The standard edition costs £69.99. More Trending In case the community-driven approach wasn't hammered home enough, EA has launched FC Feedback, which is described as a new initiative that 'empowers players to contribute directly to the evolution of EA Sports FC'. That means you can share feedback on the website's official portal, on Discord, and across social media. EA Sports FC 26 is set to launch worldwide on September 26, 2025 across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. For those who purchase the Ultimate Edition, you'll have access from September 19. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Nintendo and Steam crack down on hentai and other 'eSlop' filling up game stores MORE: PS5 consoles get massive £90 price cut in PlayStation sale MORE: EA Sports FC 25 costs just £15 in huge PlayStation Store summer sale
Metro
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
EA Sports FC 25 costs just £15 in huge PlayStation Store summer sale
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6, Silent Hill 2, and EA Sports FC 25 have all received significant discounts in the latest PlayStation Store sale. Summer might be the least active time of year for the gaming release calendar, but it's arguably one of the best times to pick up a bargain. Amazon Prime Day has been and gone (although some discounts are still up) but there's also events like the Steam Summer Sale. Beyond that, the PlayStation Store always has a summer event, which is usually better than Sony's other sales throughout the year. This year's sale is live from today until August 13, with more additions set to be added from July 29. It's a really good line-up too, with sizeable discounts across big franchises like Call Of Duty and Assassin's Creed. For football fans, the main draw will be EA Sports FC 25 at £14.69, which is a massive 79% off the original price. This discount comes in advance of the next game's unveiling this week, but it is also another indicator that last year's entry fell below sales expectations. More Trending Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 has similarly been reduced, as the series' next entry, Black Ops 7, is due to be unveiled at Gamescom next month. Activision's juggernaut shooter is 45% off, at £38.49, which is a pretty cheap price for a current Call Of Duty title. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. A bunch of games out this year have been reduced too, including The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered at £39.99 and Assassin's Creed Shadows which is 25% off. As for deals on the ultra cheap end of the spectrum, Borderlands 3 is a mere £5.99, if you want to gauge whether you'll click with its upcoming sequel. The Quarry, one of Supermassive's better narrative horror adventures, is also a steal at £8.44. You can check out all the deals through the PlayStation Store, but we've compiled some of the best bargains below. If you're in the market for a PlayStation 5 console, Sony has knocked £90 off those too. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: This is what Link looks like in The Legend Of Zelda live action movie MORE: Donkey Kong Bananza review – great ape odyssey on Switch 2 MORE: GTA 6 will earn a record breaking £5,000,000,000 in 60 days claims analyst
Metro
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Games Inbox: Is EA Sports FC 26 going to be a flop?
The Monday letters page asks for recommendations for games similar to Firewatch, as one reader asks if the PS5 is still worth getting. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ A new challenger I've been playing Rematch quite a bit and I agree with your review. You can tell it's new, because of the lack of features, but I do think it has a chance of becoming something special. Even right now it is a rival to EA Sports FC, and I've found myself playing it more. Although you could say that's simply because it's new. However, knowing that EA Sports FC 25 sold so badly that EA ended up cutting hundreds of jobs, I wonder if Rematch is going to make things even harder for EA Sports FC 26. Could it even be a genuine flop, compared to how much it cost to make and what the series (or rather FIFA) usually does? In my opinion, EA Sports FC is not a good game and it doesn't deserve to be hyper successful just because it's got all the official rights. If it wasn't for that people wouldn't be interested at all. Once again, we see that competition is good, especially as EA has never done the non-professional side of football well – the whole jumpers for goalposts bit. Camphor Old news Interesting to hear that the rumours about Resident Evil Requiem being open world weren't wrong, they were just old. I think that probably happens more than we realise, where people are told outdated information and there's no way for them to know. I can imagine publishers even allowing the information to get out there, so they can judge whether people are into the idea or not. Apparently fans weren't keen on open world, so that got axed. However, I think that means that nothing about the game actually leaked in the end. I certainly don't remember anything about it staring the daughter of someone from Outbreak, so well done to Capcom for keeping the secret until now. Lenticular Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. GC: The fact that the open world had been dropped did leak before the reveal. But you're right that no information about the new version of the game made it out, with insiders still suggesting the main character was going to be Leon S. Kennedy. A good run My last run of games (mostly for around £20 via PS Plus/Extra) has been RoboCop: Rogue City, Jusant, Cocoon, Dying Light 2, Dave The Diver, Blue Prince, Balatro, and now Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. All pretty varied, and all excellent. Cheers for the reviews, which have pointed me towards a couple that I wouldn't have otherwise picked up. Let's hope the good games keep on coming. Matt (he_who_runs_away – PSN ID) GC: Thank you. That is a good line-up of games. Email your comments to: gamecentral@ Further watching Recently, I returned to Firewatch, after a while on my Xbox, as it was my go-to relaxing game to play on occasion. The more I thought about the story the more it made sense. It's kind of sad in a way. The story builds up to something but in the end it just shows two middle-aged people trying to escape their reality and yearning for some mystery and excitement in their lives, out of the events that unfold in the game. My brother who, is only a retro gamer as he hates modern games, is addicted to Firewatch. He's replayed it dozens of times. It's the only game released in the last 10 years he will play. It's a shame Campo Santo was bought by Valve and has gone silent. I hate the way that happens in the game industry, when small indie developers get swallowed up and their output grinds to a halt. I'm wondering what other games on Xbox are similar? I have looked at Return To Grace and The Invincible but don't know what else is there. Could you recommend? Icelticghost GC: Campo Santo were meant to be making something called In the Valley Of Gods but it got put on indefinite hold. As for other recommendations, perhaps What Remains Of Edith Finch, Oxenfree, Kentucky Route Zero, or the original Life Is Strange? Original hardware The reason why I've still got an Xbox 360 is I like playing classic older games and not having to search if a game is backwards compatible. I also have an Xbox One X and an Xbox Series X. Next gen consoles have come on leaps and bounds, as future consoles will continue to do so but I have a backwards compatibility library that I like to dip into now and again. Steve (ImDagger211 – gamertag) GC: Do you find there are many that aren't backwards compatible? That's one of the Xbox's best features. Favourite franchise In celebration of numerous lauded and acclaimed gaming franchises, that have resonated with various gamers across the globe. I'd like to list my 10 all-time favourite video game franchises 10. Resident Evil – a horror monolith. It has been reinvented numerous times, been lauded, been criticised, and yet it continues to flourish. As one of the longest running franchises of all time it is truly a testament to Capcom's continuing vision. I expect this to continue with Resident Evil Requiem. 9. Metal Gear Solid – a revolutionary stealth and cinematic odyssey; the brainchild of Hideo Kojima continues to be rightfully celebrated (the fifth game is a disappointment, however) 8. Mass Effect – storied characters, consequential choices, and an intergalactic voyage make this science fiction trilogy a masterstroke in space opera storytelling, but Andromeda is a disappointment. 7. Uncharted – Nathan Drake is one of my favourite characters. Naughty Dog's masterful blend of platformer, set pieces, and vibrant action lend well to a fantastic franchise 6. God Of War – cinematically electrifying and brutally splendours. The transition of Kratos from a vengeful warrior to a hardened father is told through a myriad of excellent titles. 5. Persona – Atlus' Japanese role-playing flagship is host to some of the greatest role-playing games, to date. I eagerly await the sixth instalment 4. Grand Theft Auto – a franchise that I grew up with as a child. It continues to evolve with each title and when the highly anticipated sixth game releases in 2026 I can only imagine the hours I will spend in Leonida. 3. Dark Souls/Soulsborne – it was a toss-up between Souls and Elder Scrolls, but whilst Bethesda take steps backward, FromSoftware continues to flourish. From Demon's Souls to Elden Ring it truly is a marvellous franchise and one I will continue to love dearly. 2. The Legend Of Zelda – truly magical and fantastically beautiful, Zelda is truly and unequivocally one of a kind. It's Nintendo's greatest triumph and I yearn to one day experience the majesty that is Ocarina Of Time. Zelda will forever remain special to me. 1. Final Fantasy – what else could it truly be but the greatest Japanese role-playing franchise ever made. A series of excellently crafted titles. Several examples of musical elegance. The foundations laid for turn-based gameplay. Several memorable characters, such as Cloud Strife, Sephiroth, and Sin. Revolutionising pixel graphics. A franchise that continues to evolve, even after 38 years. It is Final Fantasy and it is my favourite franchise. The only blight, however, is Final Fantasy 16. That will never deter me though. I always will remain an admirer of Square Enix's grandeur collection. Thank you for reading. Shahzaib Sadiq Mixed messages After a load more layoffs by Microsoft are said to be on the way, I wonder how the judge that allowed the buyout to go ahead feels? I mean, in their eyes Call Of Duty wasn't that much of a big game, and she couldn't see a problem with the deal going ahead. Well, now she should see thousands laid off for no reason other than to bring profits up. I must be honest; whoever allowed the deal to go ahead they made a fantastic decision to allow the deal to go through. David GC: That last sentence doesn't seem to match the rest of what you were saying. Late to the party I currently own a PS4 Pro, which my wife bought me for a gift back when it was released. I also have an Xbox Series X (which funny enough she also bought me for my 50th birthday) and I use the Xbox nearly every day, if I have the time, but the PlayStation 4 not so much. My problem is that despite being very, very late to the party I'm thinking about getting a PlayStation 5. Not sure why all of a sudden. Right now, I have a fear of missing out, but I can't shake the notion from my tired old head! Does anyone think this is a good thing to do? Should I invest in the more expensive Pro version again or do I wait it out and go for the PlayStation 6? I know I'm old, but I've always enjoyed my gaming since way, way back in the days of the Atari 2600. Honestly, can someone help? If you think it's a bad idea, I'll definitely listen to your opinion. I guess I just need to hear someone say it! My poor wife doesn't care if I do or not, I guess she just goes along with my fads! Thanks in advance. LilleyJnr GC: When buying hardware, the simple question should always be: what games do you want to play on it? If it's a long list, then it may be a good idea for you. Inbox also-rans I own three different copies of GTA 5 too. There's no shame in it. It not only gets better each time but also cheaper! Banko Open world bicycle adventure game Wheel World looks interesting. It's out on the 23rd of July, any plans to review it? Simundo GC: Perhaps, but it's a bit early to say right now. Email your comments to: gamecentral@ More Trending The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Games Inbox: Is AI going to ruin video games? MORE: Games Inbox: Has the Nintendo Switch 2 been a disappointment? MORE: Games Inbox: Will the PS6 be the most powerful console ever?
Metro
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
EA Sports FC 26 cover star leaks and they've been on before
Several leaks have emerged for EA Sports FC 26, including the next batch of Icons and who will be on the game's cover. As we hit the summer months, the announcement of the next EA Sports FC game is guaranteed to be just around the corner. The past few entries, including last year's EA Sports FC 25, were all officially revealed in July, ahead of a September launch. The inevitable EA Sports FC 26 is expected to follow suit and, as is also tradition, leaks have outed several details already. This includes who will be gracing the cover of EA Sports FC 26 and according to several leakers, it's set to be a repeat of last year. According to leaker LeanDesign, who leaked last year's cover star, England and Real Madrid player Jude Bellingham will once again be splashed on the cover for EA Sports FC 26. Repeat cover stars aren't unusual for the series. Lionel Messi has appeared on four FIFA covers, from FIFA 13 through 16, while Cristiano Ronaldo had a back-to-back billing on FIFA 18 and FIFA 19. The footballer who has featured on the cover the most is Wayne Rooney, who notched up seven games from FIFA 06 until FIFA 12. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. In other leaks, reliable insider Fut Sheriff has revealed the next batch of stars set to appear as Icons in Ultimate Team for EA Sports FC 26. You can check out the full list below, but one of them, Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimović, is a somewhat surprising addition. More Trending In 2020, Ibrahimović criticised EA for allegedly using his name and likeness in the game without his permission. 'Who gave FIFA EA Sport permission to use my name and face? @FIFPro? I'm not aware to be a member of Fifpro and if I am I was put there without any real knowledge through some weird manouver [sic],' he tweeted at the time. EA responded with a statement which pinned the blame on FIFPro, the organisation which represents professional footballers. 'This is between FIFPro, the players within their association and their representatives,' an EA spokesperson told Forbes. Ibrahimović disputed this claim in subsequent tweets, but his presence as an Icon in EA Sports FC 26 suggests the dispute has been settled. Zlatan Ibrahimović – Sweden Andrés Iniesta – Spain Toni Kroos – Germany Marcelo – Brazil Giorgio Chiellini – Italy Alex Morgan – USA Francesco Totti – Italy Oliver Kahn – Germany Sara Thunebro – Sweden Cha Bum-kun – South Korea Steffi Jones – Germany Sissi – Brazil Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: The Alters review – send in the clones MORE: The best Mario Kart World character is not who you'd expect MORE: Xbox to be hit by fourth wave of layoffs in 18 months says report
