{
  "schemaVersion": "1.3",
  "id": "ea-sports-fc-27",
  "slug": "ea-sports-fc-27",
  "product": "EA SPORTS FC™ 27",
  "title": "EA SPORTS FC™ 27",
  "job": "Is the date real, do they need to spend, what can they skip.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-09-14",
  "timezoneNote": "Calendar dates are as published. Global launch is 25 September 2026. PC unlock on the EA App buy page is 24 September 2026 at 11 PM UTC. Ultimate early access starts 18 September 2026.",
  "lifecycle": {
    "postedAt": "2026-09-09",
    "announcedPlatformReleases": [
      {
        "platform": "PlayStation 5",
        "date": "2026-09-25",
        "sourceIds": [
          "ea-editions",
          "ea-buy"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "PlayStation 4",
        "date": "2026-09-25",
        "sourceIds": [
          "ea-editions",
          "ea-buy"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "Xbox Series X|S",
        "date": "2026-09-25",
        "sourceIds": [
          "ea-editions",
          "ea-buy"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "Xbox One",
        "date": "2026-09-25",
        "sourceIds": [
          "ea-editions",
          "ea-buy"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "Nintendo Switch 2",
        "date": "2026-09-25",
        "sourceIds": [
          "ea-editions",
          "nintendo-switch-2"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "Nintendo Switch",
        "date": "2026-09-25",
        "sourceIds": [
          "ea-editions",
          "nintendo-switch"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "PC",
        "date": "2026-09-25",
        "sourceIds": [
          "ea-editions",
          "ea-buy"
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "disclosure": {
    "text": "As an Amazon Associate, NeedFlag earns from qualifying purchases."
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "ea-editions",
      "label": "EA — FC 27 editions and release dates",
      "url": "https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-27/news/fc-27-editions-and-release-dates"
    },
    {
      "id": "ea-buy",
      "label": "EA — FC 27 buy",
      "url": "https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-27/buy"
    },
    {
      "id": "ea-press",
      "label": "EA News — FC 27 launches September 25",
      "url": "https://news.ea.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2026/Kylian-Mbapp-and-Jude-Bellingham-Welcome-You-to-EA-SPORTS-FC-27-Launching-Worldwide-on-September-25/default.aspx"
    },
    {
      "id": "ea-dual",
      "label": "EA — FC 27 dual entitlement",
      "url": "https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-27/news/fc-27-dual-entitlement"
    },
    {
      "id": "nintendo-switch-2",
      "label": "Nintendo Store — EA SPORTS FC 27 (Switch 2)",
      "url": "https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/ea-sports-fc-27-switch-2/"
    },
    {
      "id": "nintendo-switch",
      "label": "Nintendo Store — EA SPORTS FC 27 (Switch)",
      "url": "https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/ea-sports-fc-27-switch/"
    },
    {
      "id": "ea-youtube",
      "label": "EA SPORTS — FC 27 Reveal Trailer",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RbGwgVRDWg"
    },
    {
      "id": "nintendo-microsd-express",
      "label": "Nintendo Support — microSD Express compatibility",
      "url": "https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68425"
    },
    {
      "id": "playstation-m2-ssd",
      "label": "PlayStation Support — add an M.2 SSD to PS5",
      "url": "https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps5-install-m2-ssd/"
    }
  ],
  "official": [
    {
      "id": "launch-date",
      "label": "Launch date",
      "value": "25 September 2026",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "PC unlock listed as 24 September 2026 at 11 PM UTC on the EA buy page.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-editions",
        "ea-buy",
        "ea-press"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "early-access",
      "label": "Early access",
      "value": "18 September 2026 — Ultimate and EA Play Pro path (up to 7 days)",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-editions",
        "ea-buy"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "platforms",
      "label": "Launch platforms",
      "value": "PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (EA App, Steam, Epic)",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-editions",
        "ea-buy",
        "nintendo-switch-2",
        "nintendo-switch"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-category",
      "label": "ESRB rating",
      "value": "E",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "From Nintendo Store contentRating. No dedicated FC 27 page on esrb.org in the check window.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-switch-2"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-descriptors",
      "label": "ESRB descriptors",
      "value": "Users Interact, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-switch-2",
        "ea-buy"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "publisher",
      "label": "Publisher",
      "value": "Electronic Arts",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-editions",
        "ea-press"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-standard",
      "label": "Standard price",
      "value": "$69.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "USD. Most platforms including Switch 2.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-buy",
        "nintendo-switch-2"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-ultimate",
      "label": "Ultimate price",
      "value": "$99.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "USD.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-buy",
        "nintendo-switch-2"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-switch-standard",
      "label": "Nintendo Switch Standard price",
      "value": "$59.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "USD. Nintendo Switch (not Switch 2) only.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-switch"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "ultimate-plus",
      "label": "Ultimate Plus",
      "value": "Not sold on ea.com",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "EA buy page lists Standard ($69.99) and Ultimate ($99.99) only. Early-bird was listed earlier at $119.99 and ended 31 August 2026.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-14",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-editions",
        "ea-buy"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "lite",
      "label": "Lite",
      "value": "Free limited preview at launch on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, EA App, Steam, Epic (25 September 2026 16:00 UTC). Not listed for Nintendo on that Lite line.",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-editions"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "dual-entitlement",
      "label": "Dual entitlement",
      "value": "Free PS4 to PS5 and Xbox One to Series upgrade",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-dual"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "the-grounds",
      "label": "The Grounds (incl. Clubs)",
      "value": "PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2 only",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Not on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-editions"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "install-size-pc",
      "label": "PC install size",
      "value": "100 GB",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "EA system requirements: 100 GB HDD minimum / 100 GB SSD recommended.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-buy"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "preorders",
      "label": "Pre-orders",
      "value": "Available",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-buy",
        "nintendo-switch-2",
        "nintendo-switch"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "media": {
    "trailer": {
      "label": "Official trailer",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "kind": "youtube",
      "youtubeId": "0RbGwgVRDWg",
      "pageUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RbGwgVRDWg",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-youtube"
      ]
    },
    "still": {
      "label": "Official still",
      "src": "/media/ea-sports-fc-27/official-still.jpg",
      "credit": "Electronic Arts",
      "pageUrl": "https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-27/buy",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-buy"
      ]
    }
  },
  "decisions": [
    {
      "id": "buy-now-set",
      "item": "Buy-now set",
      "verdict": "empty",
      "rationale": "Nothing currently earns a yes. Empty buy slots are intentional. No catalog. No affiliate slots until a line is a yes.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "game-switch-2",
      "item": "Switch 2 Standard ($69.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed Switch 2 Standard at $69.99. Same Standard price as PS5, Xbox, and PC. Switch (not Switch 2) Standard is a different price.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-buy",
        "nintendo-switch-2"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H9SZBQVQ?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "game-ps5-standard",
      "item": "PS5 Standard ($69.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed PS5 Standard at $69.99. Same Standard price as Switch 2, Xbox, and PC.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-buy"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H9SYK5Q7?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "game-xbox-series-standard",
      "item": "Xbox Standard ($69.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed Xbox Series X|S Standard at $69.99. Same Standard price as Switch 2, PS5, and PC.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-buy"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H9T7MTYK?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "switch-standard",
      "item": "Nintendo Switch Standard ($59.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed Switch (not Switch 2) Standard at a lower price than other platforms.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-switch"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "ultimate",
      "item": "Ultimate ($99.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed Ultimate with early access from 18 September. EA Play Pro is another early-access path.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-editions",
        "ea-buy"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "ultimate-plus",
      "item": "Ultimate Plus ($119.99)",
      "verdict": "skip",
      "rationale": "Ultimate Plus is not sold on ea.com. The buy page lists Standard ($69.99) and Ultimate ($99.99) only.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-14",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-editions",
        "ea-buy"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "lite",
      "item": "Lite",
      "verdict": "skip",
      "rationale": "Free limited preview at launch on listed non-Nintendo platforms. Not a paid buy.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-editions"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "switch-2-microsd-express-256",
      "item": "Switch 2 Samsung microSD Express 256 GB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Switch 2 will not run games from regular microSD. Digital installs beyond internal need Express.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-microsd-express"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3VTCZK8?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ps5-ssd-sn850x-1tb",
      "item": "PS5 WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe with heatsink 1 TB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Need if the PS5 is full.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-m2-ssd"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": false,
        "href": null,
        "note": "No paid link."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ps5-ssd-sn850x-2tb",
      "item": "PS5 WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe with heatsink 2 TB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Larger option if the PS5 is full.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-m2-ssd"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": false,
        "href": null,
        "note": "No paid link."
      }
    }
  ],
  "openHoles": [
    {
      "id": "install-size-consoles",
      "question": "What are the console install sizes?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "PC is listed at 100 GB. Console sizes are not on the pages checked.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-09",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ea-buy"
      ]
    }
  ]
}