EA FC26 will be released at midnight on Thursday, and to celebrate the launch Argos will be opening its store at Southend Airport Business Park at midnight. Midnight launches, once a staple of the British high street for big releases, have seen a decline since the rise of downloadable content. However, Argos is looking to revive the moment, as Google Trends data showing that searches for ‘midnight launch’ spiked on March 30 with the Nintendo Switch 2 release, the highest search since 2020. Pete Wray, senior gaming buyer at Argos commented: “We know how much our customers look forward to major gaming releases, and we’re thrilled to offer this midnight launch for EA FC26. In addition, customers are welcome to purchase other items from Argos’s extensive product range during the half hour opening.