EA has published Gameplay Developer Notes - October on its official website, covering the November update plans for FC 27—that is, the direction of changes for Title Update v1.2.0. This update will focus on fixes and optimizations; gameplay and game mechanics changes won't be the focus, though some controversial mechanics may get optimized.
The Five Most Notable Adjustments in These Developer Notes
Fullback Positioning Optimization
When defending, fullbacks sometimes drop back unreasonably deep, causing structural problems across the back line and even potentially leaving attacking players accidentally onside.
EA will adjust fullback defensive positioning so they hold the line more consistently and only track runners once a real attacking threat is confirmed.
Once this change goes live, fullbacks dropping unnecessarily deep on defense should happen less often, and the back line's overall positioning will be more stable. On the attacking side, exploiting offside gaps won't work as easily as it does now. Using a high defensive line or emphasizing line coordination will make it easier to maintain your defensive structure.
Offside Awareness Optimization
Attacking players sometimes can't accurately read the opponent's defensive line, leading to poorly timed runs and even unnecessary offsides.
The next update will improve attacking players' ability to judge the defensive line's position, letting them choose run paths more effectively and stay onside as much as possible when attacking.
This change will work together with the fullback positioning optimization—attacking players will have more sensible run options when looking for space in behind, and through-ball combinations may also flow more smoothly.
Attacking AI Movement Improvements
Some AI-controlled attacking players look sluggish on the pitch, especially around the box. They don't always move into available space in time, which further prevents them from offering effective passing options or attacking choices.
The change will further optimize attacking AI so players make more purposeful support runs and use space around the box more effectively.
This change matters a lot for playstyles that rely on team link-up play, short passing penetration, and organization around the edge of the box—more effective passing options, richer attacking choices, and easier ways to find usable space.
Reducing Losses After Kickoff
After a kickoff, the defensive line sometimes drops too deep, letting the opponent advance easily and quickly create goal threats.
After the update, teams will hold a higher line overall after kickoff, balancing the pressure on both sides of the ball.
This is the most directly situation-specific change in the update plan. Its main goal is to reduce the opponent's success rate in exploiting the abnormal drop-back after kickoff to quickly advance into the box, giving the defending side earlier chances to press and intercept.
Auto Player Switching Optimization
In some cases, auto player switching doesn't select the player closest to the ball, leaving you unable to defend effectively in time and losing out in ball contests.
EA will fix the player selection issue in the following scenarios:
- After a teammate completes a slide tackle.
- After a player completes a headed pass.
- After a shot misses the target.
After the fix, auto player switching results will be more sensible and consistent, greatly improving the continuity of defensive actions so you don't have to frequently switch manually to correct the system's choice.
Which Controversial Gameplay Areas Is EA Investigating?
Beyond the five confirmed update plan items, EA also stated they're investigating three controversial areas.
- High defensive line: EA is paying attention to whether a high line puts too much pressure on the opponent, and may adjust the strength or effect of high defensive lines later.
- Physical collisions: Whether collision handling is reasonable between players of different heights, builds, and physical stats—this covers player contests, duels, and physical contact.
- Shooting and goalkeepers: The accuracy of specific shot types, as well as goalkeeper positioning—specific shooting methods or goalkeeper behavior may be balanced later.
These three areas are still under
