EA Sports FC 26 revamps Rivals and Champs with new Gauntlet mode and more protections against rage quitters

One of the most popular modes of any FC game is, of course, Ultimate Team. With EA Sports FC 26, the developer is introducing a suite of changes that tackle several aspects of the game mode.

FUT is also getting a new game mode within it, called Gauntlets, that’s effectively a streak of challenges for players who dare take them on. The latest Deep Dive blog post has a lot of FUT goodness to dig through.

One of the biggest additions to FUT in FC 26 is the new Competitive Gameplay tuning, which makes the moment-to-moment gameplay unique to that mode, and separates it from other game modes in FC 26. Competitive was essentially designed for FUT, but the game will also offer Authentic Mode for players looking for an experience closer to simulation.

Before you get into playing the actual game, you’ll be presented with the updated FUT Play Menu, which has been reworked to be easier to navigate, jump to what you like, and discover something new. The different sections are now more clearly labeled, making it simple to quickly jump into a game against the AI, against a friend, or find a random opponent online.

On the main FUT page, you’ll notice the new Live Events feature, which EA says is a new pillar of competitive play within it. Nestled within the Event Hub, the new section will present a rotating set of themed competitions for players. You’ll be able to easily track your progress, see available rewards, and check each challenge’s entry requirements to see if you can access it.

FUT is expanding this year in several ways, new and old. Tournaments return this year with the classic knockout format. EA says they’ll show up at key moments instead of run weekly like Rivals.

The aforementioned Gauntlets are designed to test your club across several consecutive matches. Each Gauntlet can be made up of up to five matches (though only three at launch), with one key difference: you’ll need to build a new squad for every match. You cannot be eliminated from a Gauntlet, you’ll just have to keep playing through it.

FC 26 is also bringing a big refresh to Rivals with the intent to make it more rewarding, regardless of whether or not you win. This is done through the introduction of new incentives, such as Bounties, Duels, and Limited Checkpoints.

EA is also making some core changes to online matches in order to maintain the integrity of the experience. FC 26 is building on a change made to FC 25 after launch that attempted to alleviate player frustration when missing out on a win because the opponent quit (when it’s a draw). This year’s game will build on that by adding disconnects to the list of possible quits.

This, in practice, means that when playing Live Events, Rivals, and Champions – assuming certain conditions are met – you’ll get a win when your opponent either quits or disconnects from the match when it’s a draw.

Finally, EA confirmed that goalkeeper evolutions are coming to FC 26. Further building on that are Repeatable Evolutions, which offer more flexibility because you can complete them multiple times (though not infinitely). And, as a bonus, evolving players no longer causes them to lose their item design, unless the Evolution changes the rarity.

In case you missed it, EA recently shared everything you can expect from Manager and Player Career in FC 26, two modes getting what may be the game’s biggest updates this year.