EA Sports has confirmed what many players were hoping for—FC 26 Ultimate Team will hand out a free 100k Jumbo Rare Players Pack right at launch. For veterans, that’s not just a pack; it’s a springboard. Pulling even one elite card could flip your fortunes instantly, whether you decide to keep it for your lineup or cash out for a mountain of coins. Starting with that kind of boost, plus some FC 26 Coins on hand, means you can invest smartly from day one instead of scrambling like in past years.

The path to this reward is built into a new challenge track called “Launch Week Kickstart.” The good news? It’s open to everyone, no matter which edition you bought. That’s a shift from previous years when the Ultimate Edition carried the biggest weight at launch. Here, the focus is on getting people involved quickly, so simply diving into the game is enough to put you on the road toward unlocking that top-tier pack.

The objectives themselves won’t feel out of place. Expect them to touch every corner of Ultimate Team—win some Squad Battles or Rivals matches, knock out a few starter SBCs, and probably do something cosmetic like slap a new kit or badge onto your club. It’s a checklist, sure, but one that doubles as a guided tour of the features EA wants you to notice in FC 26. You’re not just chasing a pack; you’re learning the ropes again.

That said, Ultimate Edition buyers will likely get a shortcut. The pre-order perks have always been stacked, and this year it makes sense that one of those bonuses is instant access to the same 100k pack. It’s a way of balancing investment and participation—hardcore fans get their boost on login, while everyone else still earns the reward through play. It doesn’t feel unfair, more like two different routes to the same prize.

The bigger picture is the market. Dropping this many high-value packs into circulation on day one is going to shake prices. Meta golds in the 83-86 range might tank for a few days because supply will spike. If you’re paying attention, that’s when you buy. Once the hype settles and the influx dries up, prices rebound, and sharp traders can pocket tidy profits. It’s a short window, but one that’s defined early seasons before.

It’s rare that EA hands the entire player base something this impactful at launch, but it feels like a smart move. Engagement skyrockets when everyone feels they have a shot at packing a superstar. And if you want to really take advantage of the volatility, being liquid is key—that’s why many players lean on a trusted FC 26 Coins buy service to build their trading stack while the market is at its most chaotic.