Last updated: July 2026
Quick Answer
EA FC 26 may not be the death of the franchise, but it definitely feels like one of the most frustrating Ultimate Team cycles in recent years.
The main problem is not only gameplay, packs or weak promos. The real issue is that EA broke the usual club progression system. In previous years, the structure was clear: promo cards were the main way to upgrade your squad, SBCs worked as extra content, and Evolutions helped make favorite cards playable.
In EA FC 26, that balance disappeared.
Evolutions became so strong that they started replacing promo cards instead of supporting them. As a result, opening packs, completing SBCs and waiting for new promo teams often felt less rewarding.
That is why EA FC 26 feels like an “end of era” moment for Ultimate Team.
EA FC 26: The Problem Is Not Just Bad Promos
It is easy to say that EA FC 26 is simply a bad game, but the problem is much deeper.
The biggest issue is the broken rhythm of Ultimate Team progression.
Ultimate Team used to have a clear cycle:
• EA releases a promo team.
• Players open packs, buy cards or complete SBCs.
• Some promo cards become meta.
• Evolutions help make older or favorite cards more usable.
• The next promo pushes the power curve forward again.
In EA FC 26, this structure started to fall apart.
Evolutions stopped being a fun side feature and became one of the main ways to build the strongest possible squad.
On paper, that sounds great. More freedom is always good. But in practice, it created a major problem: many promo cards lost their value too quickly.
Evolutions Became Too Strong Too Early
The biggest criticism of EA FC 26 is that Evolutions became too powerful too early in the game cycle.
At launch, this was not such a serious problem. But around Black Friday, EVO cards started becoming much stronger than many promo cards.
That completely changed the feeling of progression.
Instead of waiting for new promo cards, players could build incredibly strong EVO cards. Some of these evolved cards were not just playable. They were better than cards coming from packs.
That is where the balance problem begins.
Evolutions should make favorite players usable. They should help you build fun squads. They should allow casual players to improve cards they personally like.
But Evolutions should not become the main meta route at every position.
When EVO cards are stronger than expensive promo cards, the entire point of opening packs or buying new promo players becomes weaker.
Promo Cards Lost Their Meaning
The biggest problem is that promo cards stopped feeling special.
The screenshots from the DOCX show several examples of this issue: Pedro Neto, Gómez, Bisseck, Musiala and Van Dijk. The point is not that these cards are bad individually. The problem is that EVO versions and custom cards often became more attractive than regular promo releases.
For example, if someone packs a strong promo centre-back like Van Dijk, that should feel like a big moment.
But if another player can use an evolved card that is faster, more reliable and better suited to the meta, then the promo card immediately loses part of its value.
That should not happen too early in the year.
At the very end of the game cycle, this kind of chaos is understandable. Everyone has insane cards, and the game becomes more about fun.
But when this happens in November, it damages the whole progression system.
Custom Promo Teams Were a Good Idea With Bad Timing
The idea of customizable promo teams is actually very good.
Letting players choose PlayStyles and shape cards for their own playstyle can make Ultimate Team much more personal.
The problem is not the concept.
The problem is the timing and the power level.
Some custom promo cards received too many PlayStyles and PlayStyles+ too early in the cycle. In some cases, cards had around two PlayStyles+ and eight regular PlayStyles, which was simply too much for that stage of the game.
Even worse, EA allowed some of these already powerful cards to be evolved further.
That made later promo teams feel weak by comparison.
When a custom-built card is already close to perfect, how is a normal promo card supposed to compete?
This is why many later promos felt underwhelming even when the stats looked strong.
Glory Hunters Showed the Same Problem Again
A more recent example is the Glory Hunters promo.
The first team arrived late in the cycle, and players could create incredibly strong versions of cards like Messi, Neymar and Van Dijk.
The issue is that these cards could have several PlayStyles+ and a huge number of regular PlayStyles.
After that, EA released promo teams with fewer PlayStyles and clear weak areas.
That created a strange question:
Where is the logic?
If one promo allows players to create almost perfect cards, the following promo teams need to match that level or offer something different. Otherwise, they immediately feel behind the curve.
This is one of the main reasons EA FC 26 feels inconsistent.
The power curve does not feel controlled.
It feels random.
SBCs Also Suffered Because of Evolutions
The problem does not stop with promo cards.
SBCs also became less exciting.
Traditionally, SBCs worked as additional upgrades during promos. Sometimes EA released a player who was not the best card in packs, but still gave your squad a useful boost.
In EA FC 26, if Evolutions already give you better cards, many SBCs lose their purpose.
Why complete an expensive SBC if your evolved player is already better?
Why grind fodder if the next SBC does not improve your team?
Why open packs if promo cards are not stronger than your EVO cards?
This is the core issue.
The grind loses meaning when the best squad upgrades come from the same repeated mechanic.
Community Reaction: SBC Interest Looks Worse
One of the strongest visual examples from the DOCX is the table comparing average community likes for SBCs across recent titles.
The trend is very negative:
• FIFA 22: 61.30%
• FIFA 23: 56.22%
• EA FC 24: 43.10%
• EA FC 25: 42.14%
• EA FC 26: 34.18%
Even if this is only one community-based metric, it reflects a feeling many players have had for years: SBCs are becoming less exciting.
EA FC 26 appears to continue that decline.
The problem is not only that individual SBCs are sometimes overpriced. The deeper problem is that the game structure makes many SBCs feel unnecessary.
If promos and SBCs do not clearly improve your team, players lose motivation to engage with them.
The Semenyo Example Shows the Lack of Understanding
Another good example is the Semenyo situation.
EA added a promo Semenyo card as a loan reward, even though the whole point of that promo was to apply PlayStyles and customize cards.
That feels illogical.
A loan card does not fully support the central idea of the promo if players cannot properly build and use it long-term.
This is the kind of decision that makes players feel like EA does not always understand how Ultimate Team is actually played.
The issue is not one single reward.
The issue is what it represents.
It suggests that some decisions are made without enough attention to how the promo concept works inside the real game cycle.
What EA Needs to Fix
1. Bring Back a Clear Progression Hierarchy
EA needs to restore a healthier order:
Icons / Promo Cards > SBCs > Evolutions
That does not mean Evolutions should become useless.
They should remain important.
But they should support club building, not completely dominate it.
Evolutions should make favorite cards playable. They should not automatically create the most meta cards in the game.
2. Limit Further Evolution on Already Custom Cards
If EA releases a customizable promo card with strong PlayStyles, it should not always be eligible for even more upgrades.
A simple solution would be:
• give custom promo cards fewer PlayStyles at launch;
• limit future EVO eligibility;
• avoid giving too many PlayStyles+ too early;
• keep the power curve under control.
For example, a promo card with two PlayStyles+ and several normal PlayStyles may already be strong enough.
Allowing that same card to evolve again can break the next few months of content.
3. Hire People Who Deeply Understand Ultimate Team
EA also needs more people who understand the live Ultimate Team ecosystem at a high level.
Ultimate Team is not only about card stats.
It is about timing, value, rarity, power curve, chemistry, PlayStyles, gameplay meta, SBC pricing and market psychology.
When these things are not balanced together, the whole cycle feels strange.
EA FC 26 often feels like different parts of the game are not connected properly.
Promos, Evolutions, SBCs and pack content should work together.
This year, they often felt like they were fighting each other.
Why EA May Not Fix Everything
There are also some changes that players may want, but EA probably will not fully implement.
For example:
• slower game cycle;
• fewer store packs;
• fewer promo teams;
• more skill-based gameplay;
• less aggressive power creep.
These ideas may be good for long-term game health, but they can conflict with EA’s business model.
EA is a major company, and the main goal is always revenue.
That is why expecting a complete reset may be unrealistic.
Still, smaller changes are possible.
EA can keep the game profitable while also improving the structure of Ultimate Team.
The key is balance.
Should EA FC Become Free-to-Play?
One bold idea is that EA could eventually make the game free-to-play.
This would bring a huge number of players into the game and lower the entry barrier.
It could also reduce some pressure from players who feel disappointed after buying a full-price game and then facing heavy monetization inside Ultimate Team.
However, this would also change the entire business model.
Would EA do it?
Maybe one day.
But right now, it still feels unlikely.
Final Verdict: EA FC 26 Feels Like a Broken Game Cycle
EA FC 26 is not necessarily the death of the franchise, but it is one of the clearest examples of how Ultimate Team’s structure can break.
The core issue is not one bad promo or one bad SBC.
The real problem is that the game no longer has a clean progression system.
Evolutions are too strong.Promo cards lose value too fast.SBCs often feel unnecessary.Custom cards can become too perfect.The power curve feels poorly controlled.
The idea behind Evolutions is still good.
The idea behind customizable promo cards is also good.
But the implementation in EA FC 26 has damaged the usual Ultimate Team rhythm.
EA needs to bring back a clear structure where promos feel exciting, SBCs feel useful and Evolutions feel like a fun addition rather than a mandatory meta tool.
Until that happens, many players will continue to feel like EA FC is moving in the wrong direction.
Need FC 26 Coins for the End of the Cycle?
If you are still building your Ultimate Team squad, the late cycle can be one of the best moments to try fun cards, icons, Evolutions and SBC players.
Before spending coins, compare prices carefully and think about whether a card actually improves your team.
If you want to upgrade your squad faster, you can check the latest FC 26 Coins prices on FUTBUY and get the resources you need for Ultimate Team.
Frequently Asked Questions About EA FC 26 End of Era
Why do many players consider EA FC 26 one of the worst recent Ultimate Team cycles?
Many players are frustrated with EA FC 26 because the usual Ultimate Team progression feels broken.
In previous years, promo cards, SBCs and Evolutions had clearer roles. Promo cards pushed the game forward, SBCs gave extra upgrades, and Evolutions helped make favorite cards playable.
In EA FC 26, Evolutions became so strong that they often replaced promo cards and made many SBCs feel less important.
Did Evolutions ruin EA FC 26 Ultimate Team?
Evolutions did not ruin the game by themselves, but their balance created a major problem.
EVO cards became too powerful too early, which made many promo cards feel unnecessary.
Evolutions should improve favorite players and make them usable. They should not become the main way to build the most meta squad in the game.
Why do promo cards feel less exciting in EA FC 26?
Promo cards feel less exciting because many evolved cards can match or even beat them in key areas such as pace, PlayStyles, body type and in-game reliability.
When a player can build an EVO card that performs better than an expensive promo card, opening packs and waiting for new promo teams becomes less rewarding.
That is why many promos in EA FC 26 felt weaker than they should have.
What is the main problem with custom PlayStyle promos?
The idea of custom PlayStyle promos is actually strong, but the implementation in EA FC 26 was too aggressive.
Some cards received too many PlayStyles and PlayStyles+ too early in the cycle. EA also allowed some of them to be evolved further.
Because of that, later promo teams looked weaker and the power curve became harder to control.
Why do SBCs feel worse in EA FC 26?
SBCs feel worse because many of them no longer provide meaningful squad upgrades.
If players already have stronger EVO cards, there is less reason to complete expensive SBCs.
As a result, SBCs lose their old role as useful promo bonuses and become less exciting for the community.
What should EA change in future Ultimate Team cycles?
EA needs to bring back a clear progression structure.
Promo cards and icons should feel special. SBCs should offer useful upgrades. Evolutions should support squads without becoming mandatory on every position.
EA also needs better control over PlayStyles, EVO eligibility and the overall power curve.
Should Evolutions stay in EA FC?
Yes, Evolutions should definitely stay.
The feature is fun and gives players more freedom to build squads around their favorite footballers.
The problem is not the concept of Evolutions, but the balance.
EVO cards should make players usable and enjoyable, not automatically better than most promo cards.
Is EA FC 26 still worth playing?
EA FC 26 can still be fun if you enjoy squad building, Evolutions, icons and late-cycle cards.
However, from a game-cycle perspective, it feels inconsistent.
If you only care about smooth progression, meaningful promos and strong SBC value, this year may feel disappointing.
What should EA learn from EA FC 26 before FC 27?
The biggest lesson is that Ultimate Team needs a controlled power curve.
EA should avoid giving players too many elite PlayStyles too early, limit further Evolutions on already overpowered custom cards and make sure promos, SBCs and Evolutions work together instead of competing with each other.
Do you need FC 26 Coins for the end of the cycle?
If you are still building your squad, the end of the EA FC 26 cycle can be a good time to try fun icons, SBC players, Evolutions and promo cards.
Before buying players, always compare prices and check whether the card actually improves your team.
If you want to upgrade your squad faster, you can check the latest FC 26 Coins prices on FUTBUY and get the resources you need for your Ultimate Team.
