Big Ant Studios released update 1.70 for Cricket 26 on October 29, 2026, introducing a significant gameplay penalty for excessive crease movement and the arrival of the WBBL26 season. The patch, identified as version 1.000.070 on PlayStation 5, focuses on balancing competitive play and updating licensed content across all platforms, including PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.
Crease Movement and Competitive Balancing
The most impactful gameplay change in this update addresses how players position themselves before a delivery. Repeatedly moving the striker around the crease now triggers a shot quality penalty. This adjustment is designed to counter a specific tactic where players would move to disrupt the AI bowler’s logic or force unrealistic delivery angles in online matches.
Fielding mechanics have also seen a balance pass. Slip fielding reaction times and overall responsiveness have been tuned. These adjustments aim to make catches behind the wicket feel more consistent with the speed of the delivery and the skill level of the fielder.
WBBL26 and Pro Team Season 8
In preparation for the new season, WBBL26 content is now available in both Competition and Play Now modes. This includes updated rosters and branding for the Women’s Big Bash League teams.
For those playing the Pro Team mode, Season 8 has officially launched. Titled “White Ball Winners,” this season focuses on limited-overs specialists. While specific player card distributions for this season were not detailed in the primary notes, the theme dictates the rewards available for the duration of the season.
HUD Updates and Bug Fixes
The user interface has received a minor update to provide more immediate information during gameplay. Player ratings are now displayed directly on the HUD during player introductions, allowing users to see the relative strength of the batter or bowler as they enter the action.
According to the official Big Ant Studios Community Forum, several technical issues were addressed in this version:
- Fixed a bug that prevented leg-byes from being recorded correctly during match simulations.
- General stability improvements across all platforms.
- Alignment of PlayStation 5 build numbering with the 1.000.070 convention.
This update follows the developer’s typical pattern of balancing gameplay exploits shortly before the start of major real-world domestic tournaments.
