EA Sports has revealed major changes coming to Ultimate Team in EA FC 26, including new game modes, a faster competitive gameplay setting, and a revamped Division Rivals system. The updates, previewed at EA's Vancouver HQ, aim to address community feedback and refresh the mode's core experience.
Two new live event formats are being introduced: Tournaments and Gauntlet. Tournaments are high-stakes knockout events with up to four rounds, exclusive rewards, and special squad requirements. Each tournament has limited entries, and winners cannot re-enter. Gauntlet is a series-based event where players must use a new squad for each of up to five games, with no player usable twice; rewards scale with wins.
FUT Champs is being overhauled with the removal of play-offs. A new FUT Champs Challengers competition will allow players in Rivals Divisions 10 to 6 to qualify for a separate, lower-reward event. Division Rivals now features win streak bonuses, limited checkpoints to prevent relegation, and a Bounty system that awards points for in-game objectives like clean sheets or scoring first, even in losses.
Gameplay in Ultimate Team will shift to a faster, more arcade-like 'Competitive' mode, distinct from the slower 'Authentic' mode used in Career Mode. Live events will also include locked competitions that require completing objectives to unlock, intended for elite players. EA promises further community-focused events at the end of each FC Season.
These changes, along with Evolutions updates and visual improvements, are part of a broader effort to make Ultimate Team more engaging and rewarding for all player levels.
