Career Mode is getting a major facelift in EA FC 26, with plenty of new additions to make this year’s version the most authentic one yet.
EA FC 26 is set to play very differently from last year’s game, with a number of important tweaks to the on-pitch action. Each mode is also receiving some attention, as Clubs is getting a whole new progression system.
Career Mode is also due for some love this season, as the devs have come up with plenty of additions to make it stand out from the more competitive modes. So, here’s everything new in Career Mode in FC 26.
Manager Live
The biggest change in Career Mode this time around is Manager Live, a new feature that gives fans a totally new way to play. Every week, a new set of challenges and storylines will be released, tasking players with overcoming specific obstacles.
For example, one could be to bounce back after a point deduction, while another could be to win the league with a transfer embargo. There will be 150 challenges released over the course of the season, with rewards ranging from retro kits to Heroes and Icons.
Manager Market
One of the most exciting parts of Career Mode is watching the high-profile transfers as players move from club to club. In FC 26, managers can also make a move, with realistic sackings and retirements happening all the time.
You’ll have access to a menu that shows the job security of every coach in your league, allowing you to eye up their position if they’re let go. There’s also an option to shortlist or apply for a specific job if you have a dream club in mind.
If a manager is relieved of their duties, a caretaker manager will even take their place. If they perform well, they may even be offered the position permanently.
Authentic gameplay
Among the biggest changes in this year’s game is the split between Authentic and Competitive gameplay. Online modes, where real players go head to head, like Ultimate Team, use Competitive, while Career Mode will stick to Authentic.
This places the emphasis on realism, slowing matches down and making them much truer to the actual sport. Defenders will be more lifelike and prone to mistakes, while dribbling and shooting are slightly less consistent.
The aim of all this is to keep the scorelines more believable, rather than the goalfests they’ve been in previous years. But if you prefer the razor-sharp gameplay of other modes, you can also switch to Competitive at any time or adjust the sliders for yourself.
Unexpected Events
A common complaint in recent years is that Careers can often go stale, especially after you’ve made your signings and are grinding through the busy schedule. Unexpected Events are a new way to mix things up and give you fresh problems to solve.
At any point in a season, you might suddenly be hit by the news that an ageing player is going to retire, or that a new signing isn’t settling in well. There are also more positive ones, like a board takeover that injects some extra cash into the club.
You can adjust how often they occur in the settings, but they should give you some extra challenges to think about in the middle of a season.
Player Archetypes
When it comes to Player Career, the marquee addition is Archetypes, which are also coming to Clubs. When creating a new save, you’ll be asked to pick one of 13 classes, which will dictate what kind of player you will be and your starting stats.
From there, as you progress, you’ll unlock new perks, PlayStyles, and even specializations to further boost your player into a global superstar.
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