If you’ve been wondering whether Timed Finishing is still a thing in EA FC 26, here’s the scoop: it’s gone. This mechanic, which first appeared in FIFA 19 and required timing your shot button press for extra power and accuracy, has been removed. Why? EA felt it didn’t add the kind of skill that felt fair or balanced, especially since it made long-range shots too strong and inconsistent in clutch moments.
Timed Finishing let players try to nail the perfect shot by pressing the shoot button twice, but the timing had to be spot on. Too early or too late, and your shot would lose power or go off-target. It was a risk-reward move that many top players swore by in competitive matches. But it kinda got out of hand, making certain shots almost unblockable and frustrating for opponents.
Why No More Timed Finishing?
EA explained that Timed Finishing didn’t really add meaningful skill depth and was tricky to balance. They said it rewarded specific shots too much and felt inconsistent when the pressure was on. Removing it means shooting should feel more consistent overall.
Does this mean anyone can score easily now? Not exactly. While Timed Finishing is no longer available, Precision Shooting remains. This mode transforms shooting into a manual experience, where you must aim your shots using the left stick and carefully control power. It’s harder to master, but it’s where skillful players will still be able to show off and stand out.
EA believes this change will make skill differences clearer because you’ll have to nail timing, aim, and shot selection all together. So, there’s still a learning curve if you want to get better, but it’s a different kind of challenge now.
What Took Timed Finishing’s Place?
Instead of the old double-tap timing mechanic, Low Driven shots now work with double taps on the shot button. This tweak frees up the controls for new shot variations, adding some fresh options to your shooting arsenal. Here’s a handy table of all the Low Driven shot types and how to perform them on PlayStation and Xbox:
Shot Type | PlayStation Controls | Xbox Controls |
Low Driven Lace Shot | Circle (Hold to power up) + Circle | B (Hold to power up) + B |
Low Driven Finesse | R1 + Circle (Hold to power up) | RB + B (Hold to power up) + B |
Low Driven Trivela | L2 + Circle (Hold to power up) + Circle | LT + B (Hold to power up) + B |
Low Driven Flair Shot | L2 + Circle (Hold to power up) + Circle | LT + B (Hold to power up) + B |
Low Driven Power Shot | L1 + R1 + Circle (Hold to power up) + Circle | LB + RB + B (Hold to power up) + B |
Low Driven Volley | In Air Shot – Circle (Hold to power up) + Circle | B (Hold to power up) + B |
Low Driven Header | In Air Jump – Circle (Hold to power up) + Circle | B (Hold to power up) + B |
Honestly, it’s a bit of a shake-up. I mean, who doesn’t love mastering that timed shot? However, this may encourage players to focus on improving their overall shooting skills rather than relying on a single trick. What do you think? Was removing Timed Finishing the right call or a step back?