🔄 Holiday Update & Gameplay Changes
The latest Holiday Update includes several gameplay adjustments, most notably:
Manual goalkeeper movement nerf — reduced movement speed and a smaller manual control radius.
UI refresh — winter-themed menu visuals and smoother navigation.
General improvements across Career Mode and Clubs, including stability fixes and quality-of-life tweaks.
🃏 New Star-Heads & Classic XI Returns
The update adds:
7 new player star-heads and 1 improved manager star-head, bringing more realistic likenesses across multiple leagues.
Classic XI Teams returning to Kick-Off mode, giving players access to legendary all-time squads once again.
📆 Promo & Event Calendar
The current promo roadmap features several major events scheduled for the coming weeks, including:
Thunderstruck — expected to be the next high-profile drop with upgraded cards and themed content.
Additional upcoming promos like Ratings Reload, Cornerstones, and more.
📰 Community Reactions & Meta Impact
The GK nerf is seen as a major shift in the meta, reducing the dominance of manual keeper movement in competitive play.
The Holiday Update is widely interpreted as EA’s push to refresh gameplay and set the stage for the winter promo cycle.
Overall, the December 2 update delivers meaningful gameplay tuning, visual upgrades, and lays the groundwork for the next wave of Ultimate Team promos.