EA Sports has provided details on the upcoming changes to Career Mode in EA SPORTS FC 26. They are outlining new features for both Manager and Player Careers. The announced updates, including Manager Live Challenges, Manager Career with ICONs and Heroes, and Deeper Simulation and Data-Driven Scouting, aim to expand the gameplay experience within the mode.
Manager Live: New Challenges for Manager Career
Manager Live is presented as a new hub designed to introduce varied scenarios into Manager Career saves. This feature aims to offer evolving weekly and monthly challenges, intended to align with the progression of a football season.
EA Sports notes that the inspiration for these in-game storylines came from player-created scenarios in previous iterations. Manager Live will incorporate challenges that can correspond with real-world football events, such as transfer windows or UEFA Champions League knockout stages. Additionally, there are “Reactive Challenges” designed around specific in-game events. Examples of potential objectives include winning a league with only youth players, avoiding relegation with a points deduction, or achieving Champions League success with a lower-league domestic-only squad.
The Manager Live Hub will serve as a centralized access point for all Manager Career scenarios, including Full Careers and Live Starting Points. Players can customize their manager’s profile, including name and appearance, and up to five preferred clubs. These clubs can influence challenge recommendations. The Hub will include permanent tabs for personalized content, curated scenarios, social features for sharing challenges, and popular global challenges. There are also dynamic tabs that may appear based on current events or leagues.
Challenge Parameters will allow for customization of each scenario, defining rules, objectives, and context. This includes setting specific start dates within the football calendar, defining team selection limitations, and toggling gameplay features like scouting, transfers, or youth academies on or off. Additional parameters can include financial takeovers, board expectations, transfer embargoes, or points deductions. These can adjust the difficulty and focus of challenges.
Manager Career with ICONs and Heroes
The Manager Career with ICONs and Heroes feature will allow players to incorporate legendary players into their squads. ICONs and Heroes can be unlocked through progression in the Season Pass, becoming available for new career saves and challenges.
This addition is intended to offer players more control over squad building. It enables them to potentially recreate classic teams or integrate these iconic players with current team rosters.
Manager Market and Enhanced Simulation
The Manager Market aims to introduce a more dynamic environment for managerial movement. AI-controlled managers can be subject to sacking, recruitment by other clubs, or voluntary departure. This is designed to create a more fluid managerial landscape within Career Mode. When managerial positions become available, caretaker managers may be appointed. Clubs will evaluate potential candidates based on factors such as club quality, manager reputation, tactical vision alignment, and nationality. Players will also have the option to apply for vacant positions. Job compatibility is influenced by their performance and tactical approach.
Furthermore, Deeper Simulation and Data-Driven Scouting are being introduced. Players will have the option to simulate up to five additional leagues beyond their main league when starting a new Manager Career. This aims to create a more interconnected and detailed footballing world within the game. This expanded simulation will also incorporate historical player data. It provides statistics from the previous season, such as top scorers, assists, clean sheets, and average ratings for players in simulated leagues. This data is intended to assist players in evaluating potential signings, tracking player development, and planning transfers.
The Standings section has been redesigned to centralize competition data. Scouting reports will offer direct access to a player’s full statistics for easier comparison. These improvements are intended to support more analytical approaches to squad management.
The updates to Career Mode in EA Sports FC 26 aim to provide a more varied and detailed experience for players. With the introduction of Manager Live Challenges, the ability to include ICONs and Heroes, and expanded simulation features, the mode seeks to offer a broader range of gameplay scenarios.
