{{Use Australian English|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox video game | collapsible = | released = 19 November 2025 | writer = | artist = | producer = | director = | modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]] | genre = [[Sports game]] | platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]]<br/>[[PlayStation 4]]<br/>[[PlayStation 5]]<br/>[[Xbox One]]<br/>[[Xbox Series X/S]] | state = | engine = In-House Engine | series = ''Cricket'' Series | publisher = [[Nacon]] | developer = [[Big Ant Studios]] | caption = | image = | title = Cricket 26 | composer = }}{{Short description|2025 cricket video game}} '''''Cricket 26''''' is a [[cricket]] [[video game]] developed by Australian developer [[Big Ant Studios]] and published by French publisher [[Nacon]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cricket 26 - The Official Game of the Ashes Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/cricket-26-the-official-game-of-the-ashes/ |access-date=2025-11-29 |website=www.metacritic.com |language=en}}</ref> It was released on 19 November 2025, and is the official video game of the [[2025–26 Ashes series|2025-26 Ashes series]]. It is the ninth game in Big Ant Studio's series of cricket games, being the sequel to ''[[Cricket 24]]''.
== Development == ''Cricket 26'' is based on an updated version of the same engine that powered ''Cricket 24''. It features graphical enhancements like [[Ray tracing (graphics)|ray-traced lighting]], dynamic weather effects, realistic bowling actions, and updated fielding animations. Batting, bowling, and fielding mechanics have been tweaked.
== Gameplay == ''Cricket 26'' features enhanced gameplay mechanics similar to those present in previous editions in the series. Multiplayer features like Pro Team, Auction House, academy, and content drops are also present. Certain Pro Team features require [[Microtransaction|microtransactions]]. Players have the ability to create and acquire community-generated content like [[Ground (cricket)|stadiums]], equipment, and players.<ref>{{Cite web |last=L|first=JOSH|date=2025-11-26|title=Cricket 26 review: the best cricket action yet, held back by chaos|url=https://www.absolutegeeks.com/article/reviews/cricket-26-review-the-best-cricket-action-yet-held-back-by-chaos/|access-date=2025-11-29|website=Absolute Geeks|language=en-US}}</ref> A new gameplay mode is Management Career, which lets the player take charge of teambuilding activities like recruitment, player development, lineup construction, and match strategy. Team confidence meters and optional objectives have also been introduced.
The game includes both domestic and international cricket, with [[Ireland cricket team|Ireland]], the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]], and [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] being newly added teams.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cricket 26: Everything Revealed Ahead of Its November 20 Launch|url=https://www.insidesport.in/gaming/cricket-26-everything-revealed-ahead-of-its-november-20-launch/|website=Inside Sport India|date=2025-11-19|access-date=2025-11-29|language=en|first=Vivek|last=Singh}}</ref> Domestic competitions include the [[Indian Premier League]], [[The Hundred (cricket)|The Hundred]], and the [[Caribbean Premier League]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=noobfeed |title=Cricket 26 - The Official Game of the Ashes Review |url=https://www.noobfeed.com/reviews/cricket-26-the-official-game-of-the-ashes-review |access-date=2025-11-29 |website=NoobFeed |language=en}}</ref> In addition, It includes an enhanced mode focusing on the Ashes which allows the player to take charge of activities like net sessions and press conferences for either [[England cricket team|England]] or [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]]. New Zealand's [[Super Smash (men's cricket)|Super Smash]] league has been removed. Games can now be affected by environmental conditions like light and precipitation, and the [[Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method]] can come into play.
== Release == ''Cricket 26'' was released worldwide on 19 November 2025 on [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]]. The Windows version is digital-only and is available on both the [[Xbox Games Store|Xbox Store]] and [[Steam (service)|Steam]]. The PlayStation and Xbox Series X/S versions are available both digitally and on physical discs. The Xbox One version is digital-only and is available in the Xbox store.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The official game of the Ashes is released today - where to shop Cricket 26|url=https://talksport.com/sport/cricket/3749708/cricket-26-release-official-ashes-videogame/|website=talkSPORT|date=2025-11-20|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-gb|last=}}</ref>
Aside from the Standard edition, a Pro Team edition includes additional credits for use in microtransactions. English is the only supported language.
== Reception == Critics praised the graphics, game mechanics, improved AI, and on-field gameplay of ''Cricket 26'', saying that it is an iterative but significant improvement over ''Cricket 24''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-24 |title=Review: Cricket 26 (Sony PlayStation 5) – Digitally Downloaded |url=https://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2025/11/review-cricket-26-sony-playstation-5.html |access-date=2025-11-29 |language=en-US}}</ref> However, they noted the presence of frequent crashes and graphical bugs even after several patches in the first week after release.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ogilvie |first=Tristan |date=2025-11-26 |title=Cricket 26 Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/cricket-26-review |access-date=2025-11-29 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> The new game modes were criticised, and some features were entirely non-functional at release. User reviews on Steam are mostly positive.
==References== {{reflist}} {{Big Ant Studios}} [[Category:2025 video games]] [[Category:Big Ant Studios games]] [[Category:Cricket video games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:Nacon games]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:PlayStation 4 games]] [[Category:PlayStation 5 games]] [[Category:Xbox One games]] [[Category:Xbox Series X and Series S games]] [[Category:Video games developed in Australia]]