November 04, 2025
EA FC 26 Technical Test Could Hint at Online Career Mode Or Something Even Bigger EA quietly launches a “future football experience” playtest in the UK, US, and Canada, sparking speculation that the long-rumored Online Career Mode might finally be real
EA Sports has quietly begun a technical playtest for EA FC 26, selecting players in the UK, US, and Canada to test an early version of a new, “world-based football experience.”
According to EA’s official blog, this hands-on test aims to “evaluate performance, stability, and innovation” for features currently in development. The studio also confirmed that player feedback will help “influence future FC innovations” — a statement that has immediately caught the attention of fans hoping for the long-rumored Online Career Mode.
🔍 Why This Test Could Mean More Than Just a Patch
For years, EA FC (and FIFA before it) has stuck to familiar pillars like Ultimate Team, Clubs, and Career Mode. While these modes remain popular, they haven’t seen major reinvention in over a decade.
By describing this as a “future, world-based football experience,” EA seems to be teasing something far more ambitious — perhaps a persistent online world where players can compete, manage, and evolve together in real time.
It’s a concept that would finally modernize Career Mode, bringing it closer to what franchises like NBA 2K and Football Manager already offer.
🌍 The Future of Career Mode: Online Management?
Imagine a fully online Career Mode where real managers battle it out across global divisions, each fighting for promotion, sponsorships, and player transfers.
A true connected ecosystem could include:
- Live player markets that react to match performance
- Seasonal objectives that mirror real-world football
- Rival clubs run by other players, all competing in synchronized leagues
EA could even tie in transfer budgets, scouting systems, and prize money based on online competition results — turning Career Mode into a living, breathing football universe.
And if the experiment works, FC 27 might launch with a complete online management experience built directly into the base game.
🕹️ Learning from 2K and Football Manager
Other sports franchises have already paved the way for online management gameplay.
- NBA 2K’s MyNBA Eras lets players relive entire decades of basketball history, managing teams from classic eras.
- WWE 2K25 recently introduced online MyGM, allowing friends to compete as rival general managers.
- Football Manager has long supported shared leagues, with players running clubs in real-time competitions.
If EA combines those systems with its authentic presentation and licenses, it could redefine the sports sim genre entirely.
💭 Fans Hope It’s More Than Just Another Monetized Mode
Naturally, players are excited but cautious. EA’s reputation for filling new modes with microtransactions has left fans wary. Many are hoping this test signals genuine gameplay innovation — not another revenue stream disguised as progress.
If this turns out to be the early stages of Online Career Mode, it could finally breathe life into the single-player experience that’s been overshadowed by Ultimate Team for years.
🧩 Final Thoughts
EA’s EA FC 26 technical playtest might seem small, but it could mark the start of a bold new chapter for the franchise. Whether it’s the long-awaited Online Career Mode or an entirely new type of connected football world, this test shows EA is thinking bigger than yearly roster updates.
The future of football gaming might finally be about more than Ultimate Team — it might be about living, competing, and managing together.