The launch of EA Sports FC 26 has ignited a debate within the Ultimate Team community, centering on EA’s stated goal to slow down the power curve. While many players have long clamored for an extended lifespan for early game cards and starter squads, the initial execution particularly surrounding Challengers rewards and other player progression incentives has left some players a bit unhappy and others delighted.
The power curve is the rate at which the overall quality and statistics of player cards increase from the start of the game cycle (September) to the end. The curve starts with players using gold cards in the low 80s and the starter squads to the endgame, where 95+ rated meta special/promo cards are common, often within just a few months.
The reason EA decided to do this was due to the community feeling burnt out, you had to buy promo packs to keep your team in line with others because you could not compete otherwise. Your team went from 80-85 gold cards to crazy promo players by the end of October last year. They wanted to avoid this issue this year by slowing the rate of stat increases, core gold cards and early game Icon cards would remain viable and competitive for a much longer period of time.
The stated plan was to reserve major increases in the power level for promos like Black Friday and TOTY. The promos in between those major events would instead focus on raising lower rated cards up to the new power level, rather than raising the ceiling itself every week.
A key part of the power curve slowdown strategy appears to be a significant reduction in rewards for playing competitive modes like Division Rivals and the Challengers rewards. Community reports highlight that rewards, have now been downgraded to have way lesser player picks and upgrade packs.
🚨 Challengers rewards downgraded
— EAFC 26 News (@FIFA22_INFO) September 30, 2025
• ❌ x17 Picks
• ❌ x5 75×5 Upgrades
• ✅ x7 Picks
• ✅ x1 75×5 Upgrade
Massive downgrade 🤣 pic.twitter.com/SiDgn15O7E
For many players, the primary incentive for the grind has been the weekly tradeable packs and coins. With these rewards dramatically scaled back, players are less motivated to invest time, particularly as the perceived value of the packs diminishes. Even for Evolutions as new Evos cost the same as last year but the upgrades are currently minimal offering an increase of +2 to some base stats making the grind to achieve them feel very unrewarding.
Gameplay feels slower since a few days, slow powercurve shouldn't mean cards under the powercurve. If I can buy Reiten for 11k why should I do an SBC for a worse card but higher price. And evos can also have +3 or so with lower stat limits, so underwhelming for themed teams
— Skill Shot (@skill_shot87340) September 30, 2025
The most significant backlash stems from the perception that the power curve slowdown has primarily been achieved by nerfing rewards for non spenders, rather than genuinely limiting the introduction of overpowered content. Despite EA’s claimed intent, the early days of FC 26 saw the immediate availability of high value, expensive store packs (like 100K packs) within a few days of the games launch, EA later apologised and said they would keep this in mind.
Many feel that the current strategy is a thinly veiled attempt to force more players to purchase the premium Season Pass and store packs to keep pace. EA needs to find the Balance between keeping the game fresh & enjoyable while maintaining the slower power curve. Some people are happy with this decision while others are not, this will be a situation where no one wins unfortunately.
