Former EA FC Developer Delivers Scathing Criticism of The Grounds
The Grounds, set to be EA Sports FC 27’s most notable new feature, aims to bring players together in a shared social space. Expected to breathe new life into the series with mini-games and various interaction options, the mode has already become the focus of controversy before its release. Harsh statements from a former EA developer suggest the development process hasn’t been smooth.
Why Did The Grounds Receive Criticism from a Former EA Developer?
Renzo Barraza, who worked on FIFA and EA Sports FC between 2013 and 2025, stated that The Grounds is one of the worst projects he’s ever worked on. Barraza, who held various positions from testing specialist to quality designer, said this mode was his last project at EA and that he will soon detail his experiences during the development process in a video.
According to the former developer, The Grounds could make the company’s true working methods more visible. However, Barraza hasn’t yet clarified exactly what he meant by this. Possible reasons include the mod being low-labor, the working conditions within the team, or management decisions. However, it’s not accurate to consider any of these as definitive information without further details.
The Grounds is being promoted as an open social hub where players can roam with their avatars, meet other users, and participate in various mini-games. EA is highlighting the mod as one of the biggest innovations of EA Sports FC 27. While some players see this idea as a bold step that could add variety to the series, others worry that the content is solely focused on cosmetics and revenue systems.
Barraza’s upcoming video could be quite important in understanding what happened behind the scenes of the mod. Currently, we only have the former developer’s personal assessment, and there is no response from EA. Clearly, the criticisms leveled against The Grounds will lead to much closer scrutiny on the mod’s release day. When EA Sports FC 27 is released, players will see for themselves whether the big promises are truly fulfilled.
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