In an unexpected twist, EA Sports has tackled the pressing issue of input delay in their upcoming game, EA Sports FC 26, by taking a hands-on approach. The team went to the extent of visiting players’ homes to test their real-world internet connections.
Senior Producer Sam Rivera shared in an interview how dedicated the team is to solving the persistent input lag problem, which has been a source of frustration for Ultimate Team players. They have experienced split-second delays during crucial in-game moments like passing or shooting. Rivera emphasized the importance of understanding the root cause: “We worked closely with pro players and gathered data globally, but we also wanted to see the issue firsthand. So, we traveled to Europe, meeting pro players in eSports studios and visiting content creators at home, which gave us valuable insights.”
In the UK and Spain, EA’s engineering teams discovered that more than half of EA FC players relied on Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet, leading to issues like packet loss and increased latency. Rivera explained, “Using Wi-Fi can result in jitter and packet loss, causing noticeable delays.” The best practice involves using an Ethernet cable and enabling Game Mode on TVs to minimize delay, which could add 20 to 100 ms of lag if not properly set up.
However, network issues weren’t the only culprits. Some in-game actions contributed to the lag. Rivera noted, “Certain moves in the game, like executing a long backward pass on a fast incoming ball, are inherently challenging. Sometimes, no animation perfectly captures these complex tasks.”
To tackle this, EA Sports has introduced numerous new animations to FC 26. The game’s animation system, described as highly complex, is designed to respond accurately to each player and opponent’s positioning. While completely eradicating input delay is impossible, Rivera is confident that FC 26 makes a significant stride towards a more responsive gaming experience.
EA Sports FC 26, announced in July 2025, is set for a worldwide release on September 26, 2025. It will be available on platforms including PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and Amazon Luna.
