Xbox players are scratching their heads as EA FC 26 preloads go live a full month early. Normally, pre-downloads are made available just a few days before launch, but this time Xbox Series X|S owners are already seeing the 52.03 GB file ready to download. With the official release date not until September 26, 2025, this has raised eyebrows across the community.

The timing is what makes this preload so unusual. EA Sports has already confirmed that Ultimate Edition owners will get early access on September 19, a week before the standard release. That would usually be when preloads become available. Instead, Xbox players are reporting that the title appeared in their game library in late August, nearly four weeks early. For PlayStation fans, however, nothing has changed—no preload files have surfaced yet for PS5 or PS4, creating a strange split between platforms.

Fans are used to Xbox quirks, but this one feels different. Gamers have long joked about Xbox’s “New Zealand trick,” where players switch their console’s region to access titles slightly earlier. But getting the full preload a month before launch is unprecedented. Community forums quickly filled with screenshots and speculation, with some wondering if it was a glitch or a deliberate test by EA.

What does this mean for players? Realistically, nothing has changed in terms of access dates. Even if you’ve downloaded FC 26 today, the game will remain locked until September 19 for Ultimate Edition pre-orders and September 26 for everyone else. Still, the early preload is a bonus for those with slower internet connections, as they can prepare their storage well in advance.

For Ultimate Team fans, the real focus isn’t preload—it’s preparation. Early access week is when the FUT transfer market explodes, with prices rising and falling rapidly. Players who want to compete from day one need to start thinking about their squad now. That’s why many turn to trusted platforms to Buy FC 26 Coins, ensuring they can grab key players before values skyrocket.

The bigger picture is that EA seems to be giving Xbox players a technical head start. While it won’t let anyone play earlier, it shows the publisher is aligning with Xbox infrastructure differently compared to PlayStation. Whether this becomes the new norm for preloads remains to be seen, but it’s another sign of how launch preparation has evolved for major sports titles.

The takeaway is simple: preload early, prepare smarter. With EA FC 26’s file already available, Xbox fans can relax knowing they won’t be stuck waiting on launch day. PlayStation users, meanwhile, should expect traditional preload windows. But no matter your console, if FUT is your main game mode, a stash of coins can be just as valuable as early access. Get Cheap EA FC 26 Coins here and you’ll be ready to hit the ground running when the servers open.