The global launch of FC 26 was supposed to mark a fresh start for EA SPORTS FC after the FC 25 cycle ended with mixed reviews. But just one day into the Cornerstones promo, arguably the most anticipated early-game campaign, the game is already facing serious issues. From glitched objectives to a broken market and widespread gameplay bugs, frustration is growing quickly.
Let’s break down what exactly is going wrong, and why FC 26 is already facing backlash from its community.
Broken Cornerstones objective ruins hype
The biggest headline from Friday’s content drop was supposed to be the Cornerstones Exhibition Tournament and its associated rewards, including a new card for Arnau Martinez Lopez. But the excitement quickly turned into disappointment when players realized the objective was glitched.
Players trying to complete the event with the required league players, such as Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, found that progress wasn’t being tracked. The system recognized La Liga, but not Serie A or Premier League, which prevented many from progressing.
EA did roll out a partial fix, removing some of the league and nationality requirements to allow progress, but the fix felt rushed and temporary. Players only have a short time to complete the challenge, and losing time to a broken feature has caused widespread frustration.
Market explodes after EA skips high-tier store packs
While objective bugs were frustrating, the chaos on the transfer market might have been even more impactful. EA’s decision to not release any major tradable store packs like 100k or 50k packs caused supply to dry up fast.
Player prices soared within minutes. Some examples from the market on Friday:
- Nico Williams jumped from 900,000 to 1.3 million coins
- Mohamed Salah rose from 480,000 to 600,000 coins
- Lamine Yamal climbed from 239,000 to over 320,000 coins
Even budget players like Etikité, Frimpong, and others under 84-rated saw big spikes in value. Everyone was expecting the market to crash with pack supply, but when that didn’t happen, players rushed to buy cards, sending prices through the roof.
This situation mirrors FC 25’s first promo. EA skipped high-tier packs on Friday and dropped them on Saturday, which crashed the market. Players are watching closely to see if that pattern repeats in FC 26.
Evolutions system improves with latest releases
Friday also introduced two new Evolutions options, bringing some much-needed excitement to the gameplay side of FC 26. These include:
- Complete Connection (Paid): Adds +3 to shooting, passing, and dribbling, along with First Touch and Box-to-Box Plus play styles
- Relentless Pressure (Free): Grants the important Relentless play style, especially useful for midfielders
These evolutions allow creative upgrades, especially when chained with earlier evolutions. Cards like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Paul Pogba are early community favorites. Loftus-Cheek, for example, can go from 80 to 85 overall with meaningful boosts across several stats.
However, EVOs this year start small, and it takes multiple upgrades to turn players into meta cards. That’s a key difference from last year, where some EVOs had instant impact.
Zubimendi SBC and risky upgrade packs
Friday’s lone player SBC was Martín Zubimendi, a technically solid card with excellent passing and defensive stats. But with a price tag of over 92,000 coins and five squads required, most players are skipping it.
The card includes Deep Lying Playmaker+ and other key traits, but the value just isn’t there right now, especially with flashback Goretzka expected soon.
Also released was the Team of the Week Upgrade SBC, which costs an 84-rated squad and includes a minimum 85-rated player. While tempting, the chance of packing a discard inform is high, making this a risky use of fodder.
With the Ultimate Gauntlet coming next week and requiring three squads, most players are advised to save their high-rated fodder for essential content rather than gamble packs.
Game still plagued with daily bugs
It’s not just one broken objective. FC 26 is currently facing a long list of bugs, some of which affect core gameplay and progression systems:
- Path to Pro objective not tracking completions
- Ping spikes and matchmaking issues
- Confetti cannons appearing mid-pitch
- Squad assignments not saving before matches
- Missing rewards or broken menus
It’s become a daily ritual for EA’s @EAFCDirect account to post a new bug report. While communication has improved, the number of issues stacking up just days after launch raises concerns about the game’s stability.
Players are growing tired of feeling like testers for a live game that should have been more polished on release.
No sign of free packs yet
Another strange omission from the first promo day: engagement rewards. Data miners and leakers discovered new premium gold player packs in the code, supposedly tied to the “On Your Way” objective. But as of Saturday morning, those packs still haven’t appeared.
The community expected them to drop in the “For You” section of the store, but no such section exists. EA may be holding the packs for a future date, but without confirmation, players are confused and frustrated by yet another example of unclear rollout.
These packs, if tradable, could impact the market again by supplying low-rated golds and 84s, so it’s something to watch closely.
What content is coming next?
A wave of new SBCs is expected over the next week based on leaks from trusted sources like Foot Sheriff and Donk.
- Flashback Goretzka: Features boosted pace and passing, but slightly lower physical and defending compared to gold
- Areti: Possibly coming Saturday, links are limited
- Nico Paz: Looks like a high-value La Liga SBC for hybrids and secondary squads
- Jarrod Bowen: Another solid attacker leak that fits well with Premier League squads
- Kudus: Tied to the upcoming Ultimate Gauntlet mode as a potential reward card
The Ultimate Gauntlet, launching Monday, is set to become one of the most important new modes in FC 26. Players will need three different squads to participate, and it’s expected to have strong rewards tied to both wins and participation.
You can learn more about how the mode works by reading the official FC 26 Pitch Notes.
With players needing multiple squads, the market could continue rising as people prep for the Gauntlet. Watch prices on La Liga, Serie A, and Premier League players in particular.
FAQ about FC 26 Cornerstones promo
What is the FC 26 Cornerstones promo?
It’s the first major promo featuring special upgraded cards with unique walkouts and strong play styles.
Why was the Cornerstones objective not working?
It failed to track league-based progress for some players until EA removed league requirements.
Will store packs come today?
Possibly. Last year EA added tradable store packs on the Saturday after the first promo drop.
Is Zubimendi worth completing?
Not really unless you’re an Arsenal fan or need a La Liga CDM badly. Too expensive for early-game value.
Should I be selling my team now?
If you bought early Friday, you could hold top-tier players. Be cautious with low-rated cards.
