Image Source: Danielle Partis, Xbox Wire Editor
Key Takeaways
- EA Sports Week returns to Xbox from January 15-18, with a limited-time Free Play Days event giving players the chance to jump into the latest EA Sports titles completely free across the weekend.
- The celebration puts the spotlight on athletes who represent major in-game upgrades, including football icon Toni Kroos, breakout rookie Cam Skattebo, and rising stars Alyssa Thompson and Ellie Carpenter.
- EA Sports FC 26, Madden 26, College Football 26, and NHL 26 are available for all Xbox members to try from Thursday, January 15 until Sunday, January 18.
- F1 25, UFC 5, and PGA Tour are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members to try during Free Play Days.
Introduction to EA Sports Week
EA Sports Week has returned to Xbox, bringing with it a limited-time Free Play Days event that gives players the chance to jump into the latest EA Sports titles completely free across the weekend. As stated in the original article, "This year’s celebration puts the spotlight on athletes who represent major in-game upgrades, including football icon Toni Kroos making his return as an EA Sports FC 26 Icon, breakout rookie Cam Skattebo debuting in Madden 26, and rising stars Alyssa Thompson and Ellie Carpenter, both receiving significant upgrades in FC 26." This is an exciting opportunity for fans to experience the best versions of these athletes in EA Sports titles.
Available Games and How to Play
The original article notes that "EA Sports FC 26, Madden 26, College Football 26, and NHL 26 are available for all Xbox members to try from Thursday, January 15 until Sunday, January 18." To start playing, users can scroll down and find the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com, and then click through to the Microsoft Store, where they must be signed in to see the option to install with their Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential membership. Alternatively, users can click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on their Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Game Highlights and Features
The article highlights the features of each game, including EA Sports FC 26, which allows players to "Play your way with a selection of the world’s biggest clubs in Kick-Off, team up with friends online in 5-a-side Clubs Rush and all new Live Events, or sharpen your skills in Learn to Play." Madden NFL 26, on the other hand, "leverages a new AI-powered machine learning system to convert thousands of plays from nearly a decade of real NFL data into more explosive gameplay—with new player-specific traits, authentic play-styles, and adaptive counters that match on-field tendencies and strategies of NFL quarterbacks and coaches." College Football 26 and NHL 26 also offer exciting features, including the ability to "forge your legacy" in college football and "play like a superstar" in hockey.
Exclusive Discounts and Game Pass Membership
The article notes that after the Free Play Days event, exclusive post-event discounts will make it easier for players to upgrade and keep playing. The original article states, "Purchase the game and other editions at a limited-time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event!" However, it is worth noting that "discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region." Additionally, F1 25, UFC 5, and PGA Tour are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members to try during Free Play Days.
Conclusion and Future Events
In conclusion, the EA Sports Week Free Play Days event is an exciting opportunity for fans to experience the latest EA Sports titles and upgrades. As the original article states, "Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news." With the event running from January 15-18, players can jump into the action and enjoy the best versions of their favorite athletes and games.
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/01/15/free-play-days-01-15-2026/
