Is EA FC 27 the New The Grounds Open-World Feature a Game-Changer or Just an NBA 2K The City Copycat? Polarized Player Expectations
Category: FC 27 Posted: Jun 22, 2026 Views: 11
As the 2026 World Cup progresses, the launch of pre-orders for FIFA 27 draws nearer. Recent reports suggest this will happen shortly after the World Cup concludes, around July 19, aligning perfectly with this game series' traditional pre-order window.
Naturally, beyond following the ongoing contests, you are likely eager to learn about the new changes coming to FUT 27. Perhaps the most significant gameplay addition is the introduction of The Grounds.
Drawing on both confirmed details and leaks, we'll introduce this feature and speculate on whether it will truly resonate with players.

How does The Grounds work?
In current EA Sports FC titles, whether in the highly competitive Ultimate Team mode or the development-focused Career mode, settings are largely confined to stadiums or locker rooms; over time, this can lead to visual monotony.
The Grounds aims to break this mold by introducing a brand-new open-world environment. It features not only football pitches and related facilities but also casual urban neighborhoods.
These public areas boast meticulously crafted visuals, ranging from dynamic weather and seasonal changes to football-themed street art.
As you explore The Grounds, you can engage in new football-related mini-games and interact with structures or NPCs at any time based on open-world prompts.
In essence, The Grounds is an open-world exploration mode built around a football theme. It allows you to unwind or try different gameplay styles without ever leaving FIFA 27 for another title.
What are the feature's other highlights?
While this is a novel addition to FC series, similar concepts have appeared in other sports games, such as The City in NBA 2K MyCAREER mode.
However, The Grounds in FUT 27 brings its own unique flair; otherwise, the mechanic might have faced ridicule from players when it was first leaked.
One standout feature is the ability to join friends for informal, casual football matches. You can earn FC 27 coins in a more relaxed environment and reinvest them into modes that require more capital, such as Ultimate Team.
The value of this mode lies more in fostering social interaction than in pure competition; furthermore, given that FC 27 will be available on multiple platforms, this feature will probably support cross-platform play.
Additionally, The Grounds in FC 27 might feature holiday-themed events, incorporating decorations that match real-world celebrations to create an immersive experience within this virtual football neighborhood.
Leaked information also suggests that The Grounds could include a unique narrative system. Special Points of Interest (POIs) would be scattered throughout the open world, allowing players to trigger distinct story segments through interaction.
Are players looking forward to The Grounds?
Generally, new features tend to be popular in the short term, provided there are no fundamental flaws. And The Grounds is also not merely a single feature but rather a comprehensive system rich in content.
The awkward reality, judging by current community sentiment, is that players do not seem particularly excited about The Grounds. This isn't necessarily due to issues with the system itself, but rather because the developer's track record is eroding player trust.
A poor imitation of The City?
While we have highlighted the unique characteristics of The Grounds in FC 27, its design philosophy bears a striking resemblance to The City from NBA 2K, a mode introduced back in 2020.
Consequently, you may encounter harsh opinions in FC 27 community dismissing The Grounds as nothing more than a clumsy copy of The City.
To be fair, sports simulation games with strong real-world ties are well-suited for open-world gameplay. However, since there are no clear copyrights or patents covering this specific concept, the situation remains somewhat awkward.
Ultimately, everything hinges on the experience of The Grounds when FC 27 launches this September, a prospect that has sparked another concern among players.
Unreasonable demands for points or coins?
In most EA FC titles, coins and points are essential resources for acquiring new players or unlocking specific mechanics.
If you played FC 25, which concluded last year, or are currently playing FC 26, you have likely noticed that the game demands an increasingly high investment of these resources.
This leads to another perspective on The Grounds: developers might require you to consume coins or points for any interactive element, even for interactions that seem completely mundane.
That said, it is premature, and perhaps too pessimistic, to draw such a conclusion right now. Since the developers are willing to introduce such a revolutionary system for FIFA 27, it is entirely possible that the goal is to provide a better experience for the player.
Lessons from VOLTA Mode
FIFA 20 introduced VOLTA mode, which featured flashy street, cage, and futsal-style gameplay along with narrative elements, making it something of a precursor to The Grounds.
Unfortunately, the mode lacked proper planning and development; it was eventually removed from the game and completely replaced by the new Rush mode in FIFA 25.
Given this history, you might be skeptical about the future prospects of The Grounds in FC 27. However, it is worth noting that VOLTA actually predated NBA 2K The City, so it is hard to say definitively who copied whom.
That covers everything in this overview and analysis. Regardless, any assessment of this new feature should wait until the closed beta concludes; for now, it is all just speculation. Here's hoping FUT 27 doesn't disappoint!
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