EA Sports FC 26 Review – Nintendo Switch 2
EA Sports FC 26 – Nintendo Switch 2
Publisher: EA
Developer: EA Sports
Genre:
PEGI:
Comments:
It’s been a few years since I picked up a soccer game on the Nintendo Switch. For years, EA Sports continued to release their yearly soccer games on Nintendo Switch, but always with a subtitle. See, soccer on Nintendo Switch was always an afterthought, and until recently was a bare bones experience that suffered from frame rate issues, lack of content, and an overall disappointing presentation. Enter FC 26, still an inferior product compared to other consoles, but a yet a solid experience on Nintendo Switch 2.
EA Sports is taking full advantage of the more powerful Nintendo Switch 2, and it definitely shows. Although I never played FC 25, a quick look through reviews as a I prepared for this review cycle led me to the same conclusion: EA Sports tried, and failed, to make soccer a strong sports option for Nintendo Switch owners. Fast forward to FC 26, and I am pleasantly impressed with what is on offer here. I’ve had the privilege to play FC 26 on PlayStation 5 as well, and there is no comparing the two: the PlayStation version runs better, looks better, loads faster, and overall is a better experience, except in one key area: portability.
I have written at length about my love for the Nintendo Switch 2, and the portability of the console. Nintendo Switch, and now Nintendo Switch 2, became my primary place to play epic single player experiences like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Witcher 3. You can now add to that list FC 26. It might perform better on the PlayStation, but there is something really enjoyable about playing soccer in bed, on the bus, or while waiting for my kids during their extra curricular activities. It’s where I do most of my gaming.
FC 26 appears to have all the same content available on more powerful systems, including my favourite and go-to mode, Football Ultimate Team is such a fantastic way to play, and while we can banter about whether or not this is a form of video game gambling, I play without spending a single dollar. And regardless of the quality and overall look of the game, I enjoy ripping open packs and expanding my team. And when we hit the pitch, the rough edges seem to fade away. Going from menu to menu, or menu to games is a bit longer than I might like, but the gameplay on the field, which I think is most important, is pretty strong and uninhibited by performance issues. There are moments of jank when it comes to character animations or even odd moments when the ball goes out of play or players collide, but for the most part it’s a smooth experience at a lesser quality than other options.
But everything appears to be here. The new options to play with competitive or authentic settings are available, as is weather and more. Improved managerial career mode is all in tact here as well, giving aspiring managers an excellent experience, but on the go if they wish. Changes to Ultimate Team introduce a brand new Gauntlet mode, where you play through a variety of matches but can never use the same player twice. While I’m excited to see something new, this wasn’t really the play mode for me. That’s fine though, as all my other favourite modes, including Moments, are present here again this year.
So I’ve waxed poetic about how awesome it is to have full fledge FC 26 on Nintendo Switch, but there are downsides I believe I should let you know about, outside of the obviously downgraded look to the entire package. The frame rate is locked to 30 FPS, and for hardcore players, this is going to be a big problem. It is actually a bit disappointing that EA Sports couldn’t hardness the more powerful Nintendo Switch 2 to provide at a minimum 60 FPS, but that is the current situation. Menus are also really bad, freezing at times and not loading. I’ve also had Ultimate Team freeze up on me a few time after matches, which is frustrating as it automatically slaps you with a 3-0 loss after you reload the game, regardless of your outcome. Understandably, these problems might be enough to make most people pass.
That said, if the Nintendo Switch 2 is your only way to play FC 26, or you prefer to play your soccer on the go, we still recommend FC 26. I was curious to see if EA Sports would take a step back with their franchise as they moved to the NIntendo Switch 2 – as they did with FIFA 18 through FIFA 23 – but they haven’t, at least not when it comes to content.
Article By Adam
