Micky van de Ven, as seen in EA FC 26.
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EA FC 26 Is Nerfing Bruiser After Community Backlash

Will it mark a shift in the meta?

Following months of demand by the EA FC 26 community, EA Sports officially revealed that nerfs to the Bruiser PlayStyle will finally be arriving via an upcoming, but still undated, update.

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The announcement was made on May 7th on both the game’s official Discord Server and via the official EA SPORTS FC Direct Communication account on X. According to it, the nerfs are going to affect the increases offered by the PlayStyle (and its plus variation) during shoulder-to-shoulder situations and add a ”matching boost for dribblers with Enforcer or Enforcer+.” The way players react to contact is also set to be tweaked, with weaker tackles no longer overpowering strong dribblers on the ball.

The same can be said about challenges from behind: this time, allowing the game to predict player movement early on and cancel challenges if back contact is detected and confirmed. An issue where the Bruiser+ Icon would appear by mistake during open play is also being addressed. You can check out a preview of the Bruiser changes in the post below:

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As the reactions under the post demonstrate, even if well-received by the large majority of the community, a few players seem divided about how the change might affect their already-made evolutions, crafted with the strengths of Bruiser+ in mind. Others have then taken the post as an opportunity to air what they believe are more fragrant issues with the title, such as its server inconsistencies and AI Defending approach, which has been a point of contention since release.

So, do you believe the nerf to be an undeniable positive, or do you consider it too little, too late? Make sure to let us know. In the meantime, while we wait for the full patch notes, don’t forget to take a look at all the players leaked and officially announced to debut with EA FC 26‘s upcoming TOTS Ligue 1, Super Lig, NWSL, and Arkema Première Ligue teams.