Just hours after reports surfaced that EA FC 27’s rumored open-world mode, titled “The Grounds,” would let players explore a free-roam city, a supposed tester has poured cold water on expectations.
It was confirmed that EA was working on an open-world mode when they trademarked “FC The Grounds” in January 2026. Ever since then, fans have been speculating what this mode will be like. According to early rumors, players would be able to explore a city-style hub, taking the series closer to something like The City in NBA 2K. For a community that’s been asking EA to evolve beyond menus for years, that sounded like a major leap.
But now, one account claiming to have tested the mode says fans may want to temper expectations.
In a post circulating on X, FGZNews stated that after testing the Open World mode, “it will not be this advanced at all.” The post goes on to say players “won’t be able to do any of the in-depth things,” describing the experience as “generic as anything” and comparing it to VOLTA set in different towns or districts with Skill Games.
— FGZ
I’m gonna just shoot this down and say already, having tested Open World, it will not be this advanced at all. You won’t be able to do any of the in detail things. It’s generic as anything, it’s basically VOLTA in different towns/districs, with Skill Games. It won’t be near… https://t.co/pQEtt0gtsj
(@FGZNews) February 17, 2026
Most notably, the tester claimed it “won’t be near the level of NBA’s open world or even GTA.”
Fans Should Lower Expectations
This reply was a shocker to the community. Fans finally had something to be excited about the FC franchise after how disappointing EA FC 26 was, but now even that hope is gone.
When people hear “open world” in 2026, they’re not thinking menu hub with a jogging animation. They’re usually thinking of roamable cities, social spaces, street courts, and customization hubs. But, according to the tester, it’s just Volta with extra steps.
If the tester’s description is accurate, EA FC 27’s open-world component may function more as an expanded VOLTA-style environment rather than a fully realized sandbox. That would mean curated districts, skill challenges, and light exploration instead of a proper open-world experience that fans were expecting.
However, it’s too early to form opinions. EA has not officially announced anything about the upcoming open-world game. There is a chance that they are just testing one aspect of the game, and more features will be added later on. While the post from FGZ is worrying, it’s still too early to say anything.
Still, the reaction highlights something important: expectations are high. After years of incremental upgrades, the community is ready for something bold.
For now, it’s a case of hype meeting reality. Whether “The Grounds” ends up being revolutionary or just a re-skinned VOLTA hub will likely define early impressions of EA FC 27 when full details finally emerge
