If you’ve spent any time on the EA forums or lurking in Discord servers this month, you’ve seen the panic. Everyone is asking the same thing: how much will upgrade packs be for the new cycle?
Honestly, it's a mess. Between the launch of the Switch 2 and the standard "annual tax" on sports sims, the price of digital progression is moving fast. We’re not just talking about a few extra bucks for a shiny gold card anymore. We're looking at a fundamental shift in how developers charge us to keep playing the games we already bought.
The Switch 2 "Enhanced" Tax
Let's start with the elephant in the room. Nintendo finally dropped the Switch 2, and they brought a new pricing strategy with them. If you own the original version of a game—say, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—and you want the "Switch 2 Edition" with better textures and a stable frame rate, you’re looking at an upgrade pack price of $10.
It’s a flat fee for most first-party titles. Breath of the Wild? $10. Civilization VII? $10. But don’t get too comfortable with that number. Some titles, like Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby and the Forgotten Land, are pushing the boundary. Their upgrade packs are hitting **$20**.
Wait, it gets weirder. If you’re a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack member, some of these upgrades are actually free. It’s basically Nintendo’s way of forcing everyone into the $49.99/year subscription tier. If you’re just on the base $19.99 plan, you’re still reaching for your wallet.
FC 26 and the SBC "Fodder" Grind
In the world of EA Sports FC 26, the term "upgrade pack" usually refers to those Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) where you trade in your junk players for something better. But if you’re looking at the store for direct "Upgrade Bundles," the math is brutal.
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The high-end 84+ x20 Upgrade Pack isn't usually something you can just buy with a credit card—you earn it. However, the "Promo Packs" that effectively serve as team upgrades are getting pricier. We’ve seen the Heroic Season Opener Pack hit 2,500 FC Points. That’s roughly $25 for a single pack.
Here is the breakdown of what most players are seeing in the store right now:
- Ultimate Pack: 125,000 Coins or 2,500 FC Points.
- Jumbo Rare Players Pack: 100,000 Coins or 2,000 FC Points.
- Rare Players Pack: 50,000 Coins or 1,000 FC Points.
Kinda ridiculous? Yeah. Especially when you realize the pack weight for top-tier icons is still incredibly low. Most people are spending $20 to $50 just to get "fodder" for the SBCs they actually want to complete.
Why 2026 is Different for Your Wallet
In previous years, we stayed at the $70 baseline for AAA games. But 2026 feels like a "fault line" for the industry. Analysts like Piers Harding-Rolls have pointed out that while base game prices might stay at $70 for now, the cost of in-game microtransactions is where companies are making up the difference.
Basically, the "upgrade" is becoming the product.
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Take NBA 2K26. The "Leave No Doubt Edition" is sitting at $149.99. It includes 135,000 VC and a "Series 1 Team Selection." Is that an upgrade pack? Technically, it’s a bundle, but for the competitive player, it’s the entry fee. If you buy the standard edition and try to "upgrade" later through VC purchases, you’ll likely spend more than that $150 just to get your MyPlayer to an 85 overall.
The Madden "Pro Blaze" Phenomenon
Madden 26 players are currently dealing with the "Pro Blaze" packs. People are dumping 1.5 million coins into these things just to hunt for Playoff or Team Builder LTDs. If you aren't a market grinder and want to buy that kind of coin value through Madden Points, you’re looking at the $99.99 bundle (12,000 Points) just to get started.
It’s a cycle. The game gets harder, the players get faster, and the cost to keep your squad "current" rises.
Real Talk: Is it Worth the Spend?
Look, I’m not here to tell you how to spend your money. But the data shows a clear trend. The average "upgrade" cost—whether it’s a next-gen patch or a team-boosting bundle—is settling into three tiers:
- The $10 "Quality of Life" Tier: Standard for moving a game from an old console to a new one.
- The $20-$30 "Promo" Tier: The sweet spot for mid-season packs in FC 26 or Madden.
- The $50+ "Whale" Tier: High-end bundles that offer "guaranteed" high-rated players.
Honestly, the best move for most people is to wait for the "Seasonal Passes." In NBA 2K26, the Pro Pass for Season 4 is $9.99. Compared to a $20 random pack, the pass usually offers more "guaranteed" value, even if it requires you to actually, you know, play the game.
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How to Save on Your Upgrades
If you’re staring at a $20 upgrade pack and wondering if there's a better way, there usually is. For Nintendo users, checking the NSO+ Expansion Pack library is step one. Many "Switch 2" upgrades are being bundled there to keep sub numbers high.
For sports gamers, the "Upgrade Packs" in the SBC or Sets menus are always better than the store packs. Using "fodder" cards you earned for free is the only way to beat the house.
The industry is moving toward an $80 psychological floor. Whether it's a base game or a collection of "must-have" upgrades, that's the number they want from you. Stay skeptical of "limited time" offers. They’re rarely as limited as they claim.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your subscriptions: Check if your Nintendo Switch Online or EA Play membership covers the upgrade costs before paying full price.
- Compare VC/Point bundles: Never buy the smallest pack of currency; the "bonus" points in the $20 or $50 bundles significantly lower the per-pack cost.
- Check the SBCs first: In FC 26, never buy a pack for players you can "craft" using the duplicate cards in your club.