EA Sports Takes Input Delay Seriously with On-the-Ground Testing
Most game studios rely on lab tests and player feedback to iron out technical issues—but EA Sports pushed things further for FC 26. Faced with nonstop complaints about input delay, the team didn’t just tweak code from their desks. Instead, they packed their gear and traveled to visit content creators and top players in the UK and Spain, running tests in real home setups. That’s not something you see every day in the industry.
Sam Rivera, the senior producer, led the charge. Right away, his team hit on some truths casual players might not realize. Despite endless advice from tech forums, over half the gamers they visited were using Wi-Fi. Why does this matter? Wi-Fi can drop data packets, cause jittery connections, and add significant lag—which all make your commands feel slow. This issue isn’t just technical; it’s everyday practical. A simple cable switch makes a world of difference, yet most people skip it by default.
When Input Delay Isn't Just the Internet
But network wasn’t the only problem. EA’s engineers sat in living rooms, tested on couches, and spotted a sneakier culprit: television display settings. While TVs often look stunning, they usually come loaded with processing features—great for Netflix, not so good for gaming. If you’re not using the TV’s dedicated “game mode,” you could be stacking on another 20 to 100 milliseconds of delay. For online shooters or fast sports games like FC 26, that lag can make you miss crucial plays or shots. And the numbers didn’t lie—players everywhere had left these settings untouched, never guessing their TVs were part of the issue.
Stranger still, EA’s team found that offline play wasn’t immune to lag. Since there’s no internet involved, this pointed to the game itself. They dug into the animation engine and found that sometimes, the game simply didn’t have the right movement for a player’s command—especially with tricky moves like rapid backward passes. If the animation didn’t exist, the game just stalled for a split-second, waiting for the next best thing. These tiny gaps built up, helping explain why players felt delay even with flawless networks.
- More than half of players still use Wi-Fi for multiplayer gaming.
- Non-gaming TV display modes can tack on major delay.
- Missing or incomplete animations stall in-game responses, even offline.
So what’s changing for FC 26? EA ramped up its animation library, stretching it to better cover complex player requests. They’re also dipping deep into their findings to guide players toward tweaks—mainly using Ethernet and turning on TV game modes. The hope is a snappier, more even experience in every match, regardless of skill or gear.
Rivera and the team proved that getting your hands dirty—literally, by visiting real homes—tells you what the manuals can’t. For players frustrated by lag, these changes and tips could reshape how FC 26 feels, whether you’re gunning for glory online or just enjoying a solo match on the couch.