EA FC 26 On Switch 2 | Performance, Features, And Gameplay Review
Posted: Oct 13, 2025 Views: 56
Since its release on June 5th, Switch 2 has sold millions of units. As one of the most successful handheld consoles, it has attracted many developers eager to port their games.
EA FC series has been ported annually since FIFA 18, and EA FC 26 is no exception. Being able to play a soccer game anytime, anywhere is a pleasure for every FC player, but players are concerned about Switch 2's performance. What are the differences between playing on a PC or PlayStation and on Switch 2's 6.7-inch display?
EA FC Series Port History
Although several generations of FIFA games have been ported to Switch, they were far from successful. As the first release on Switch, FIFA 18 is essentially a legacy edition based on Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, and lacked many of the modes found in the main console editions.
The same pattern continued for FIFA 19, FIFA 21, FIFA 22, and FIFA 23 in the years that followed. The developers of FUT series essentially released the same game year after year, updating only the kits and rosters, while still relying on an outdated engine at its core. This was a major disappointment for players, and as a result, few chose to play FIFA on Switch at the time.
However, things changed when the series was renamed EA Sports FC. EA Sports FC 24 and FC 25 finally offered Switch players a game with the same features as Xbox and PlayStation versions, a first since GameCube era.
EA Sports FC 26 Features On Switch 2
Before FUT 26 launched on Switch 2, the official promotional slogan "We Hear You" was used, indicating that the game would listen to player feedback and make changes. However, in actual experience, aside from subtle tweaks like a slower tempo, less rigid defensive formations, and more space, the overall changes aren't significant.
The game features two gameplay modes: Competitive Mode and Authentic Mode. Competitive Mode is faster, with more accurate shots and impressive saves, leaning towards an arcade style. Authentic Mode is slower, with player movement off the ball and a less invincible goalkeeper, giving the player the feeling of watching a live TV broadcast.
Competitive Mode is recommended for online play, while Authentic Mode is recommended for simulation modes like Manager Mode and Career Mode.
Switch 2 Version Exclusive Features
Due to differences in the game engine, online play in FIFA 26 on Switch 2 does not support cross-play with other platforms. Although limited, it still offers several unique advantages:
- Game Chat: Built-in voice chat is available using Switch 2's camera accessory and Joy-Con's C-button.
- Game Share: The console player can invite up to three local players to join the game as guests, even if the guests don't have a copy of the game.
- Local Wireless Play: Two Switch 2 consoles and two copies of the game can be used to play local seasons, without a Switch Online membership.
- Touchscreen Features: The touchscreen allows menus to be operated in handheld mode, with support for pinch gestures to zoom the screen.
While some new features have been added, it currently lacks a Gyro Pointer, meaning you can't use the motion-sensing pointer in menus.
EA Sports FC 26 Performance On Switch 2
EA FC 26 runs at 30 FPS, instead of the 60 FPS seen on other major platforms. This can be a dealbreaker for some players. However, since football games are relatively slow-paced and based on momentum rather than instantaneous reactions, the impact on gameplay responsiveness is minimal, and most players can adapt quickly.
The game uses Frostbite engine. To maintain stable visual quality, 30fps was chosen. While adjustments have been made to improve performance, including simplified hair rendering, lower-resolution grass and spectator textures, and reduced sideline detail, these adjustments have a minimal overall impact. Handheld mode performs exceptionally well, with excellent detail on player faces and jerseys, and all pre-match animations preserved.
However, Ultimate Team's user interface is quite clunky, even experiencing multiple freezes during initialization, requiring a game restart. This is a significant shortcoming of the current version.
Game Modes
Nearly all of FUT 26's modes have been ported over, including Manager Mode, Player Career Mode, Ultimate Team, Kick Off, and various licensed tournaments such as Champions League, Europa League, and Copa Libertadores. Archetypes system from Career Mode has also been ported over.
However, Ultimate Team mode leans heavily towards online multiplayer, lacking meaningful single-player options. Furthermore, Switch 2's smaller player community leads to longer wait times for online matches.
Switch 2 FUT 26 transfer market is separate from the shared transfer market on PlayStation and Xbox. This results in a much smaller number of FUT 26 Players on Switch 2 transfer market, a lack of market competition, and the majority of players sold being overvalued. Cross-progression is also not supported, with each platform maintaining its own progression.
FUT 26 is a solid debut for the series on Switch 2, boasting comprehensive features, authentic gameplay, excellent controls, and a superior handheld experience. Football enthusiasts will probably enjoy hundreds of hours of gameplay, especially with Ultimate Team mode offering a significant portability advantage. However, overall, it offers few real innovations, with most changes limited to updated teams and uniforms compared to FUT 25.
While Switch 2 FUT 26 transfer market is relatively inactive, the weekend markets on PlayStation and PC also experienced a significant market crash, causing many players' values to plummet. But this is also an opportunity for you to maybe take this opportunity to prepare some more SBCs fuel players. If you lost some this weekend, why not replenish some cheap and reliable FUT FIFA 26 coins at IGGM.com?
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