Games Inbox: Is EA Sports FC 26 worth getting day one?

The Friday letters page is puzzled by Nintendo’s refusal to reveal a new 3D Mario, as one reader buys a PS5 to play Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

That time of year
So it’s time for a new EA football game, with EA Sports FC 26, which ordinarily would be a pretty straightforward change over. Barely even worth mentioning. That’s how it always was with FIFA but now that EA Sports FC 25 has been a bit of a failure what’s going to happen with this year’s game?

I guess the short answer to that is that people are going to buy it anyway, but if they didn’t last year, at least not as much as they usually do, what will happen this year? My prediction is that people are going to be a lot more wary of jumping in day one but if FC 26 reviews well, with fans as well as sites, then I think it’ll be business as usual.

That’s a problem for EA though, because if people decide it’s not worth the risk of getting it day one this year they’re going to wonder why they don’t just wait every year, in case it’s another dud. It’ll still sell more than most games could ever dream off but it’s all chipping away at EA’s dead cert. Maybe stopping using the FIFA name wasn’t the no-brainer it seemed after all?
Stewpot
PS: Does GC know when it will have a review ready?

GC: We should have something on it later today, but not a full review.

Racing story
I always thought it was silly to imagine Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds beating Mario Kart, even if Mario Kart World does have its problems. It seems like it’s pretty good though, as most of them, but what I don’t get is why they didn’t go all in on a story mode, since that’s something that Mario Kart never has.

They didn’t need to know anything about Mario Kart World in order to predict that and yet they made no effort. Surely it’s super obvious business sense to do what your competitor isn’t, especially if fans are calling out for that feature.

Admittedly I don’t know what you’d do in terms of a story mode but I’m surprised that’s an issue that Nintendo has just ignored all these years. I’m not a big fan of what Diddy Kong Racing did but at least it tried. If the Mario Kart World DLC turned out to be a story mode I wouldn’t be made (until it turned out to be hyper expensive).
Cybertot

It’s-a not me
I really don’t understand why Nintendo did that whole Mario segment of the Nintendo Direct and they still didn’t announce a new 3D Mario. What could they possibly be waiting for? The only other consoles I can think of that deprioritised a 3D Mario this much are the GameCube and the Wii U, which isn’t exactly good company to be in.

Super Mario Sunshine came out over a year after the GameCube launched and was the only bad one, plus it didn’t do anything to turn anything around the console. The Wii U didn’t even get a proper 3D Mario, just Super Mario 3D World – which was basically a sequel to a 3DS game.

What I don’t get is that 3D Marios don’t usually sell that well and yet Super Mario Odyssey was a huge hit, much bigger than Galaxy, so why didn’t that get a sequel fast-tracked? And while we’re at it, why is the movie called Galaxy anyway? Surely that’s something you build up to in like five sequels time or something.

Super Mario World would’ve been a fine name for a film (not to mention Super Mario Bros. 2 and 3) but they can’t go back now. What is the third one going to be called now? Odyssey or Universe?
Onibee

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

AMPed up
The issue with the blacked out reviews is caused by the Google AMP viewer, which is browser specific. Browsers other than Chrome shouldn’t have this issue; Android phones typically are tailored towards Google services, so it will be more common on them.

You can negate the issue by clicking on the little info button on the top left of the page, which allows you to copy the URL and open in a new tab which disables the AMP viewer. I’ve included screenshots of that’s any help.
Fatclock (gamertag)/FaTcLoCk1978 (PSN ID)

GC: Thank you very much for that. We still have no official word on the problem but hopefully this solves the issue for most people.

Free update
With Nintendo getting rid of the gold points system on their website and Switch consoles I thought they had also given up on the giving free gifts from the Nintendo Store for Platinum Points, but much to my
surprise they have added a new gift for Platinum Points which is available to order from today (Friday), it is a Donkey Kong Bananza pin for 500 Platinum Points plus £1.99 postage!

They haven’t had any new free gifts since Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition came out in March 2025. They usually release a new free gift for Platinum Points every time a big new game comes out but they haven’t done that with Switch 2 until now. Here’s the link for the Donkey Kong Bananza pin. I will be ordering it tomorrow.
Andrew J.

Sequel battle
Credit where credit is due, Silent Hill f is shaping up to be a winner for Konami and for the fans. I’ve been invested since the announcement was made, about two years ago, and from the reviews that have leaked the press, and the coverage overall, it seems the hype is well justified.

Who’d have thought the series transitioning to a Japanese setting would serve to revitalise the series, introduce a broader landscape and continue to honour Japanese horror. It’s tremendous to see the streak of Konami success continue. I trust that GC’s review will be positive, since we’ve seen Famitsu review the title well and I’ll even state that I may be more hyped for this than even Ghost Of Yōtei.

For some bizarre reason, I’ve barely felt excited for the sequel to one of my favourite games. My hype for Yōtei is, for a lack of a better term, quite milquetoast. I’ve already had a bit of a shopping spree today, actually. I’ve taken the liberty of purchasing Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden, Lies Of P, and Alan Wake 2 for PC. I eagerly anticipate the insidious insanity of Silent Hill f.
Shahzaib Sadiq
PS: I’m still buying Ghost Of Yōtei. My lack of excitement will not deter me from that course. I only wish I was as excited for it as I am for Silent Hill f.

Going for an eagle
I bought a PlayStation 5 to play Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots. It’s a really fun game and I have 31 out of 38 trophies already.

I have the PlayStation 5 in my sitting room and a PlayStation 4 in my bedroom. Gonna be busy with EA Sports FC 26 soon, so I’m happy enough. Been reading since the Digitiser days, keep up the good work!
EricBIG777 (PSN ID)

GC: Thank you. But did you know that game is on Switch and PC as well? It’s one of Sony’s few experiments with multiformat titles.

Late to the party
RE: Korbie. Others copying Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bonanza DLC. Nintendo are no trendsetter here. The industry overshot the cynically timed and overpriced Bonanza DLC years ago and have been using DLC to inflate game prices for yonks.

Digital, Gold, and Deluxe editions, which are priced up to £120 in Star Wars Outlaws case on PS5. Then there’s the grubby practice of putting early access behind the most expensive editions.

Korbie asked how much the GTA 6 base game and story DLC might cost. Well, Doom: The Dark Ages with season pass is £99.99 and Outlaws £105 on the stores.

Nintendo have some way to go to be in line with current industry norms for DLC. But they are clearing dipping their toe in the greater DLC waters and it’ll be interesting, or maybe horrifying, to see how much they like it.

Personally, I’ve taken to wish listing many games versions with the season pass and wait for them to be on sale. That £105 Outlaws Gold edition with the season pass is currently on sale for £47.24 on PSN.
Simundo

Inbox also-rans
I noticed the Metroid Prime 4 trailers were a bit underwhelming too. I get the feeling that Nintendo in Japan never really know what to do with the series and it’s only because of Western devs that it ever turns out any good.
Tacle

Is it just me or is co-op the only interesting thing you could do with Cyberpunk multiplayer? I love the game but I have zero interest in playing a deathmatch in it with other people.
Mooter

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The small print
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