EA is preparing to launch "EA Sports FC 26" later this month, but early performance comparison data on various platforms has raised questions about the performance of the Nintendo Switch 2 version. Although the graphics performance of the console version is better than that of the PlayStation 4 version, there is still a gap compared with the PlayStation 5 version, especially in terms of frame rate.
On the PS5 platform, "EA Sports FC 26" provides two display modes: "Quality Mode" prioritizes improving visual effects, and "Resolution Mode" pursues clearer picture quality. Similar to last year’s work, the picture improvements in this game mainly come from adjustments to ambient light occlusion and lighting effects. Both modes target a stable 60 frames per second - a frame rate often seen as a core requirement for fast-paced sports games.
The performance of the Switch 2 version is mixed. This version retains many technical upgrades of the PS5 version, including an updated lighting system and support for EA’s “Hypermotion” technology. But the development team made compromises in hair rendering, texture details and some physical operations. Although the resolution of the Switch 2 version is the same as that of Sony's two consoles, and the picture improvement compared to the PS4 version is visible to the naked eye, the game runs at a frame rate of 30 frames per second, not 60 frames per second.
Comparison video:
This frame rate decision may be controversial. Sports games often rely on smooth animations and fast operation feedback, and a lower frame rate will immediately make players feel the change in experience. For casual players, improved graphics may offset the disadvantage of insufficient frame rate; but for competitive players, halving the frame rate may make the Switch 2 version appear sluggish and reduce the fun.
"EA Sports FC 26", jointly developed by EA Vancouver Studio and EA Romania Studio, is scheduled to be released globally on September 26, 2025. The game will be available on multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and Amazon Luna cloud gaming platform.