FC 26 just received a major Holiday Update, and one change shakes things up massively: changes to goalkeeper movement. As a response to major community feedback, goalkeeper movement has finally received a significant nerf in the game, and FC 26 plays completely differently today than it did a week ago.
The patch also focuses on some quality-of-life improvements in Clubs, Career Mode, and Rush. These efforts, especially the GK movement nerf, are commendable actions and respond directly to community feedback. But the question remains: After the goalkeeper nerf and the quality-of-life adjustments, has the player experience genuinely improved or not?
The Goal Keeper Movement Nerf
The most significant change introduced in Update 1.3.0 is the adjustment to the manual goalkeeper movement. This wasn’t simply just a mechanic but a major source of controversy, as it allowed defenders to make last-ditch saves and completely turn the tables, upsetting attackers who were certain to score.
The official Patch Notes established that the patch would considerably reduce the movement speed and the amount of ground covered by the goalkeeper. Adding on to it, the Goalkeeper Rush To Center mechanic has been entirely removed from open play, but a problem that causes keepers to react poorly to first-time shots was also addressed.
All of these changes are actually effective, and it’s surprising just how many people really were relying on the mechanic. No offense, but it was certainly interesting to see just how bad a lot of the players are without that sketchy save.
For many, the manual keeper movement was a curse, as it nullified clear scoring opportunities. However, now we have observed that, with the movement severely restricted, clear chances are more likely to be converted, rewarding good build-up plays. This change has also made matches lean more towards offensive play, resulting in a higher-scoring game.
You will now have to improve your defending and can not rely on the goalkeeper saving you when the attacker passes your backline. It feels closer to real football, and that’s ultimately a good thing, in my opinion.
Issues Persist On PC
While the patch notes specify key adjustments to the gameplay, PC players still feel like they’re stuck in mud. The game still feels sluggish, servers feel slow, and latency is high. This is especially true during peak times when there are more players in the game. When talking about FC 26 and its harsh reputation, I mentioned almost the same issues I’m still discussing today.
Matches feel highly inconsistent, and random crashes or performance stutters are still not uncommon. Other than that, some people also found that the gameplay feels a bit heavier, as discussed in the below Reddit post:
Some speculated that this is just the usual servers, but it turns out that even squad battles are also affected. Others find that this is a common EA phenomenon that happens with every other major update in most FC titles, so the issue isn’t necessarily anything new. We do have to agree, the match engine does feel a bit slower.
Quality Of Life Fixes
Moving past the gameplay adjustments, EA also delivered several meaningful quality-of-life improvements across multiple modes. For players who prefer offline Career Mode, Update 1.3.0 adds a small but extremely useful upgrade: a new field in the Squad Hub that displays a player’s willingness to renew their contract.
In Clubs, the Archetype Max Level has been raised from 60 to 75, alongside increases to the cap on AXP Instant Boosts and the total number of Attribute Points you can earn. This should give Clubs more longevity and make your grind feel more rewarding. Well, on paper, at least.
Rush Rematch is also a new, welcome addition to Rush. Groups can now vote to continue facing the same pool of opponents, which cuts down on menu downtime and keeps matches flowing. It’s a simple change, but one that dramatically improves pacing for players who enjoy quick, back-to-back games.
Overall, while the goalkeeper nerf will grab the headlines, these smaller QoL upgrades collectively help make FC 26 feel more cohesive, less tedious, and ultimately more enjoyable
