Electronic Arts, Inc. has revealed the cover for the Ultimate Plus Edition of FC 27, featuring Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham. The game is set for a worldwide launch on September 25, 2026, with pre-orders currently available. This announcement follows a summer of football and provides a first look at the game’s features.
Kylian Mbappé will also be featured as the cover star for both the Ultimate Edition and Standard Edition of FC 27. Jude Bellingham returns to the cover of an EA SPORTS FC title for a third time. Both players expressed pride in being part of the game, with Mbappé highlighting the fresh challenges and opportunities each season brings, and Bellingham looking forward to fans creating new memories.
New Features and Gameplay Enhancements
FC 27 introduces several new ways to play, inspired by the global football community. One significant addition is The Grounds, a new social football playground that expands the Clubs experience. This mode offers casual, fast-paced kickabouts alongside top-tier competition across three districts inspired by football heritage. Players can progress and personalize their characters with guidance from mentors such as Kylian Mbappé, Chloe Kelly, Paulo Dybala, and Alex Hunter.
The Career Transfer Market has been fully rebuilt to be faster, smarter, and more dynamic. Enhanced by TransferRoom, player values are now influenced by factors like club buying power, player potential, ratings, and form, aiming for greater realism. Players can engage in new negotiation tactics and dynamic bidding wars, while rival clubs recruit more strategically. This aims to streamline the transfer process.
Another new feature is the Football Ultimate Team Gallery, allowing players to curate their dream club. This involves grading sets of past and present player items across various clubs, leagues, nations, and FUT campaigns to increase a player’s Gallery Level, earning rewards and building club identity. According to John Shepherd, VP & GM, EA SPORTS FC, these new experiences represent a major step forward in delivering more ways for every player to engage with the game.
Community-driven gameplay improvements have been implemented across all game modes. These enhancements contribute to improved control and fluidity, including dynamic corners, stronger attacking awareness, and rebalanced AI defending, all designed to create a more player-focused experience. The game aims to deepen players’ connection to football and to each other.
Editions and Early Access
The Ultimate Plus Edition, available for a limited time through August 31, includes a range of content for Football Ultimate Team and the full game. This includes up to 10,000 FC Points distributed across five monthly drops, Premium Passes for Seasons 1-5, and a Hall of FUT Player Pick (1 of 5). Additionally, it offers up to seven days Early Access to FC 27, beginning on September 18.
Pre-orders for FC 27 are available across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Early access for the Ultimate Edition and Ultimate Plus Edition will commence on September 18, 2026. EA Play members can also access a 10-hour early access trial starting on September 18, 2026, and EA Play Pro members will receive day one access to the EA Play Pro Edition, which includes all the content and benefits of the Ultimate Edition.
The game promises extensive authenticity with over 21,000 players from more than 800 clubs and national teams, competing in over 130 stadiums and more than 35 leagues. This is supported by over 300 global football partners. FC 27 will feature major competitions such as the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, CONMEBOL Libertadores, Premier League, Bundesliga, and LALIGA EA SPORTS, alongside various women’s leagues including the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga, Liga F Moeve, Barclays Women’s Super League, Arkema Première Ligue, and the National Women’s Soccer League.
Rating and Impact on Players
FC 27 has received a PEGI 16 rating due to new rules from PEGI, the organization responsible for rating video games in Europe. This decision stems from the inclusion of loot boxes or similar gambling mechanics within the game, specifically within its Ultimate Team mode, where players can open player packs. The new rating policy, announced in March, dictates that any game with loot boxes will receive a PEGI 16 rating, regardless of other content.
This change is expected to affect many players, especially younger gamers, as retailers in Europe may be required to check identification for those attempting to purchase the game in countries that have adopted PEGI as part of their legislation, such as the UK. Additionally, gamers with parental controls or locks might be denied access to purchase the game on digital storefronts like the PlayStation Store. The game’s worldwide launch is scheduled for September 25, 2026.
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Source: investingnews.com
