If you've been holding out for the fine print before committing to EA Sports FC 27, Forbes has the full rundown, and it matches what we already knew: September 25 launch, Ultimate Edition buyers in a week early on September 18.

We covered the September 25 date when EA locked it in last month, along with the World Cup momentum the publisher is riding into this cycle. The Forbes piece breaks down the edition split, Standard gets you the base game, Ultimate bundles the early access window plus bonus items. Check their piece for the exact bonus list, because EA shuffles what's included year to year.

My standard advice hasn't changed since this thing was called FIFA and cost fifty bucks: unless you're a dedicated Ultimate Team player who will actually use the bonus items, the early access week is the only part of the Ultimate Edition worth anything. And a week of head start in FUT matters more than people admit, because that mode's market economy rewards being early. Everyone else is paying a premium for a demo.

I've been playing these since FIFA International Soccer on Genesis, when the players looked like cardboard cutouts and we loved it anyway. The launch cadence never changes. Ratings trickle out, someone disputes a number, editions get explained, September rolls around again.

Pre-orders are live now at the usual retailers. Whether any of it is worth locking money in before reviews drop is between you and your wallet, but September 18 and 25 are your dates.