The new year has barely begun, but Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential subscribers are getting their first Free Play Days of 2026 this weekend. From January 15-18, players who participate in the event will get to play one of the most popular sports games in the world, EA Sports FC 26, for free.
To get the word out, EA and Xbox shared a video of retired German soccer player Toni Kroos--who played for Real Madrid for a decade--working the phones and reconnecting with people.
Game Pass Premium and Essential cost $15 and $10 a month, respectively. However, Microsoft is currently running a special deal that will let players try Premium for 14 days for only $1. Essential is also getting a $1 preview period, but for 30 days instead of 14. Unfortunately, Game Pass Ultimate isn't getting a discount at this time and the price remains $30 per month.
According to research company Newzoo, EA Sports FC 26 was the console game that generated the most revenue in 2025 in terms of international sales through the end of November. Among PC games, EA Sports FC 26 placed sixth overall.
EA Sports FC 26 was reviewed by GameSpot in September 2025, and it received a 7/10 score. Our review noted that it was a marked improvement over its predecessor, EA FC 25, while also acknowledging its imperfections: "There are flaws on and off the pitch, yet this is the best the series has been for a short while. It might not walk away with a trophy this year, but it's getting closer to glory."
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To get the word out, EA and Xbox shared a video of retired German soccer player Toni Kroos--who played for Real Madrid for a decade--working the phones and reconnecting with people.
Now *that's* customer service
Play FC26 and more for free during EA SPORTS #FreePlayDays January 15-18: https://t.co/yeraPKkVEM pic.twitter.com/bgBrCrRd4s
— Xbox (@Xbox) January 13, 2026
Game Pass Premium and Essential cost $15 and $10 a month, respectively. However, Microsoft is currently running a special deal that will let players try Premium for 14 days for only $1. Essential is also getting a $1 preview period, but for 30 days instead of 14. Unfortunately, Game Pass Ultimate isn't getting a discount at this time and the price remains $30 per month.
According to research company Newzoo, EA Sports FC 26 was the console game that generated the most revenue in 2025 in terms of international sales through the end of November. Among PC games, EA Sports FC 26 placed sixth overall.
EA Sports FC 26 was reviewed by GameSpot in September 2025, and it received a 7/10 score. Our review noted that it was a marked improvement over its predecessor, EA FC 25, while also acknowledging its imperfections: "There are flaws on and off the pitch, yet this is the best the series has been for a short while. It might not walk away with a trophy this year, but it's getting closer to glory."
Source