Former EA FC Developer Says The Grounds Was One of Their Worst Projects
Renzo Barraza worked on the EA FC and FIFA series from 2013 through 2025 before criticizing the new social hub.
The Grounds is planned as EA FC 27‘s main new social hub, giving players a place to meet, play mini-games, and interact outside the usual football matches. Renzo Barraza, a former EA developer who worked on the EA FC and FIFA series for more than a decade, now says the project was among the worst of their career.
Barraza worked on the franchise from 2013 to 2025, progressing from a testing role to Quality Designer. They now post under the name DaaGlitcher, sharing videos about football games and discussing how they would approach certain features differently. Their résumé was also shared in an X post from DaaGlitcher.
In Insider Gaming’s report, Barraza described The Grounds as their final FC project and said the mode would reveal more about EA’s internal philosophy. They wrote:
“This was the last project I worked on for FC, and I believe this new mode will expose the company even more because its true philosophy will be reflected in it. Video coming soon, guys. I want to share what I went through while working on one of the worst projects I’ve ever experienced in my entire career.”
Barraza did not explain exactly what they meant by The Grounds exposing EA, so the criticism leaves room for interpretation. It could point to concerns about the mode’s development or the way EA is presenting it as a major addition to EA FC 27, but that remains speculation until Barraza shares more details.
The Grounds is designed as an open-world-style social space rather than another traditional match type. EA FC 27 players will be able to spend time with others there and take part in activities beyond the core football experience. The mode’s final scope and how it fits into the broader game will become clearer once EA shares more information.
EA also released the official EA FC 27 reveal trailer:
Barraza’s comments put extra attention on one of EA FC 27’s biggest additions. Share your thoughts on The Grounds in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.
