EA Sports FC 26 on Nintendo Switch 2: Early Access Performance & Visuals Reviewed

EA Sports FC 26 on Nintendo Switch 2: Early Access Performance & Visuals Reviewed As Nintendo's next-generation console, the Nintendo Switch 2, continues to attract more feature-rich sports titles, anticipation has been especially high for EA Sports FC 26.

Known for bringing authentic football simulation to the gaming market, EA Sports FC 26 represents the latest evolution of EA's best-selling series, launching in early access ahead of its global release on 26th September.

This title is made available across major gaming hardware, with the Switch 2 version promising visual upgrades designed to close the gap with other platforms. Following positive impressions of the improved graphic fidelity on Nintendo's new console, players eager for a handheld football experience have dived into the early access period to test EA Sports FC 26's on-field realism.

While visual improvements are immediately evident—showcasing sharper player models and enhanced stadium details compared to its predecessor—the gameplay experience reveals some notable limitations unique to the Switch 2 hardware. One of the most discussed findings from the early access phase is that EA Sports FC 26 maintains a locked frame rate of 30 frames per second on the Switch 2.

This is a contrast to performance on platforms such as the Xbox Series S, where the game runs smoothly at 60 frames per second.

According to hands-on reports and gameplay footage, this reduced frame rate on Switch 2 is consistent across standard matches, impacting the fluidity and overall responsiveness that players may expect from the current generation of sports games. Further scrutiny uncovered a recurring gameplay issue during the second half of matches.

Observers noted that, in certain situations, non-player characters (NPCs) remain stationary and obstruct the field of play, particularly near the goal area, after the second half resumes.

This anomaly, occurring at specific instances in the early access build, could disrupt match flow and player immersion.

Given that these gameplay glitches have been observed before the official launch, there is the possibility that subsequent updates or a launch-day patch will address such issues, though the 30fps cap appears entrenched for the foreseeable future. Despite these technical drawbacks, fans of the franchise on Nintendo platforms will appreciate the visual enhancements and the commitment to feature parity with other systems.

EA Sports continues to deepen its support for the Nintendo Switch ecosystem through ongoing releases of its flagship football franchise, further solidifying the eShop's roster of competitive sports titles. EA Sports FC 26 officially launches for Nintendo Switch 2 and other major consoles on 26th September.

Until then, early access feedback will be instrumental for final balancing and optimization as EA Sports fine-tunes the popular series.

Stay tuned for ongoing coverage and a full performance review upon the game's release.

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