Last updated on July 24, 2026
EA Sports is heading into its EA FC 27 reveal with two very different stories running side by side. On one hand, the studio is teasing a brand new open world mode called The Grounds, promising a social hub full of mini games and player customization. On the other, leaked packaging suggests the game could be hit with its first ever PEGI 16 rating, a change that would affect how millions of fans across Europe are able to buy it.
The Grounds Brings an Open World Hub to EA FC 27
Just a day ahead of the full gameplay reveal, EA began teasing its new social space for EA FC 27, called The Grounds. The mode is expected to let players roam freely, jump into mini games, personalize their avatars, and interact with other people inside a shared football themed world.
The first hint arrived through the newly revealed Standard Edition cover, which once again puts Kylian Mbappe front and center. The tagline printed on the artwork, which translates to something like “built from The Grounds up,” points to the background art offering fans their very first proper look at the mode.
Community members quickly began circulating additional promotional images ahead of the trailer, all centered around The Grounds. The mode has actually been the subject of leaks for months, with earlier reports claiming the hub would be split into districts inspired by major footballing nations. The newest artwork seems to back that up, showing architecture that resembles cities like Paris and London.
Scattered across the world are multiple pitches where players can dive into different activities. Alongside street football experiences similar to Volta, leaks suggest fresh mini games are on the way too, including football tennis and other casual challenges.
Extra Features Teased Alongside The Grounds
The Grounds is not the only new addition EA has teased. Another headline feature is The Gallery, a collection book system that rewards players for completing themed sets of cards tied to clubs, leagues, and competitions.
Longtime fans might also spot a familiar face making a comeback, as former Journey protagonist Alex Hunter appears to show up in one of the promotional images, seemingly parachuting into the new open world. It is not confirmed exactly what role he will play, but it is a strong hint that he could return as some kind of guide or avatar inside The Grounds.
EA FC 27 Could Be Facing Its First PEGI 16 Rating
While the open world mode is generating excitement, a separate story around EA FC 27 has fans a little more concerned. Back in March, PEGI, the European ratings body, announced that any game featuring lootbox style mechanics would automatically receive a PEGI 16 rating, keeping it out of the hands of younger players more easily. Games with battle passes or systems designed to pull players back in regularly would land a PEGI 12 rating, while titles built around NFTs or blockchain elements would be pushed all the way to PEGI 18.
Given that EA FC games, and FIFA before them, have carried a PEGI 3 rating for years, this shift is a big deal. Ultimate Team, the mode built entirely around opening packs of players, is about as textbook an example of lootbox mechanics as it gets, so it was already widely assumed that EA FC 27 would move up to PEGI 16.
PEGI has not yet officially classified the game, but leaked photos of the new box art appear to show the PEGI 16 logo printed clearly on the packaging. If accurate, this would end a long streak for the franchise, since last year’s release, EA FC 26, was still rated PEGI 3.
What the Rating Change Means for Players
A jump from PEGI 3 to PEGI 16 is not a small shift. Since EA FC remains one of the best selling sports franchises in Europe, retailers would now be required to ID check younger buyers at the counter instead of letting them purchase the game freely.
The change could also affect households using parental controls, potentially limiting access, purchases, or in game communication for younger players who previously had no trouble reaching the game. It is not a massive shakeup on its own, but combined with a fresh open world mode and new collection systems, it shows just how much EA FC 27 is evolving compared to previous entries in the series.
With the full gameplay reveal just around the corner, fans should get their clearest look yet at The Grounds, The Gallery, and how EA plans to balance new content with the incoming rating changes.
I’m passionate about books and video games. These two great passions represent, for me, a boundless universe where I can “escape” from reality whenever I need or want to. There are so many stories, worlds, and landscapes where I can instantly teleport that I don’t think a whole lifetime would be enough to explore them all (though it would be my greatest dream to be able to).
