The ultimate trick to buy EA FC 26: the PSN + EA Play combo

By Ryan Messina Deals
25 September 2025 no comments

The annual soccer video game event from EA Sports is just around the corner, with the new EA FC 26 kicking off the new virtual soccer season. It’s a pricey game, but there are a few ways to save some cash at launch!

Introduction: The Full Price Problem

EA Sports FC 26 is the new, highly anticipated installment of EA’s soccer series. The new chapter is almost here, but with a hefty price tag of $69.99, it’s a major barrier to entry for many.

It’s available both physically and digitally on consoles, but the digital editions are rarely discounted at launch on the Playstation Store or the Xbox Store. Well, the goal of our guide is to help you get the most bang for your buck. So you can buy EA FC 26 at the best price from Day One!

Solution #1: The Gift Card Trick (PSN / Xbox)

One of the most underrated solutions is buying Prepaid Cards for your console’s store at a discounted price. You have the choice of buying them through:

• Official retailers: like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, etc., which offer guaranteed Gift Cards and quality support. But you might have to wait for major promotions or sales that include Gift/Prepaid Cards.

• Third-party online retailers: with sites like Eneba, Kinguin, and similar ones. They offer bigger and more frequent discounts and promotions. But remember, as unofficial resellers, they can carry some risks.

Both solutions offer a significant advantage, though. They let you save on the purchase of the Gift Card itself. This saving then gets passed on to you when you buy a full-priced game at launch. For example, by buying a $50 Gift Card with a typical 10% discount, you’ll only pay $45. You end up saving a cool $5 on a potential game purchase from the Official Store.

Solution #2: The EA Play Subscription

EA Play is EA’s subscription service that brings a ton of benefits for fans of EA and EA Sports games. A monthly or annual subscription that offers quite a few perks, like in-game rewards and a selection of games to try. But most importantly, a 10% discount on the entire EA catalog.

This 10% discount applies not only to games but also to additional content like DLCs, expansions, and Packs. In the case of EA FC 26, it gives you a $6.99 discount on the Standard edition price. And it will also apply to purchases of EA FC Coins with the 10% discount. Not to mention a full 10-hour trial with EA Play Standard for some new games, including EA FC 26.

Find out more about EA Play on the official site

Play your way for up to 10 hours with the EA SPORTS FC™ 26 EA Play early access trial!⚽️ pic.twitter.com/ZiGlkeARCr

— EA Play (@EAPlay) September 19, 2025

The Ultimate Strategy: Combine the Two for Maximum Savings

These two solutions might seem to conflict with each other, but surprisingly, they work perfectly in harmony. You can combine them to unlock some incredible savings. All you have to do is:

• Buy a discounted PSN Gift Card or Xbox Gift Card
• Use the credit to Buy an EA Play Subscription directly from your console’s Store
• Buy EA FC 26 with the 10% discount using your remaining credit.

But let’s see how it works in more detail. Let’s say we buy some PSN Gift Cards from a retailer with a face value of $70 for just $63 (a typical 10% discount). We load the money onto our PSN account and buy EA Play Standard for 1 month at $5.99. With the remaining $64.01, we can buy EA Sports FC 26 on the PSN Store for the price of $63 ($69.99 – 10% discount). The result?

• Actual Cost: $63
• You Get: $75.98 worth of stuff for the price of EA FC 26 ($69.99) + 1 Month of EA Play Standard ($5.99)
• Perks: Get EA FC 26 on Day One for less than $69.99. Enjoy the benefits of EA Play Standard for a month with bonus content for FC 26. You have $1.01 of extra credit left.
• Keep in mind: It’s important to remember to disable auto-renewal for EA Play (official guide)

Conclusion: Smarter Gaming for Your Wallet

By using the two solutions of buying discounted Gift Cards and taking advantage of the EA Play discount and perks, you get an effective combined strategy. It allows you to save on the list price and get exclusive benefits from the EA Play subscription. And most importantly, you can play from Day One without any regrets.

This solution requires a sharp and careful eye on the price of Gift Cards from retailers, which are often subject to fluctuating prices as well as special promotions. This lets you save money not just on EA FC 26, but for your entire gaming experience, with savings that you’ll see right away and over time!

Ryan Messina

A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !

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