The beta version of Football Manager 26 is stirring up emotions in the community like hardly any other pre-release version before it. Some judgments are devastating—but are the signs really pointing to a “fiasco”?
It’s no coincidence that the first few seconds of the latest YouTube video from FM.Zweierkette are accompanied by rather dramatic music. Content creator Tery Whenett has, of course, noticed the outcry surrounding the beta version of Football Manager 26. The French sports daily L’Équipe, for example, headlines it as a “fiasco” – days before the full release.
If you believe some of the loudest community members, developer Sports Interactive is facing a disaster – or at least a stuttering start. However, this could well be calculated. After all, studio director Miles Jacobson had already announced that, unlike its predecessors, FM26 would initially be more suitable for beginners.
“There’s still a lot of love needed”
This is mainly due to the completely redesigned user interface, which is unlikely to irritate newcomers, but apparently poses problems for long-time FM players. “Part of it has to do with not being used to it yet,” says Whenett in the video. However, he also makes it clear that, in his view, “some click paths are simply endless.”
Of course, the amount of searching frustrates some players, as FM24 was “simply more mature in comparison.” In addition, Football Manager 26 “doesn’t look finished yet in some areas. A lot of love is still needed.” As an example, Whenett cites the former pyramid in the hierarchy screen, which is currently just a list and therefore less clear.
When it comes to the visual presentation of the training sessions, the content creator is clear: “In my opinion, this isn’t even a proof of concept. I understand the harsh criticism.”
Bugs and crashes galore
Sports Interactive is also struggling with Numerous players reported recurring crashes in the first few days of the beta phase. The developer had already released an extremely early hotfix for this. The second patch followed on Wednesday, and a third is planned before the full release on November 4. The areas that need work seem to be well known. More than 4,500 entries have already been submitted to the official bug tracker for the user interface. This leads Whenett to the crucial question: “Will Sports Interactive manage to get the game ready by November 4?” If you’re expecting a finished game, he says, he can’t recommend the new Football Manager 26 without reservations at this point.
“Huge playground” thanks to new tactics
However, Whenett also has some positive and relativizing news to report: “FM26 is fun,” is a simple assessment that should please many fans despite all the criticism. Thanks in particular to the new tactical system with player roles in and without possession of the ball, “a huge playground opens up.” Even if balancing problems still prevail there.
The content creator is also impressed by the significantly more authentic match day presentation. It’s a “leap from 2004 to 2011,” he says, even though “graphics have never been a big factor in Football Manager.” On the other hand, his list of shortcomings includes some missing features such as squad list data export and Deadline Day.
All a question of attitude?
All in all, the FM26 beta “leaves a bad taste in the mouth.” Whenett himself tries not to compare the new game too much with FM24, but to view it as a completely separate title. “We’re just used to betas being ultra-stable,” he says. After the switch to the Unity Engine, that is “simply not the case” at the moment. According to him, Sports Interactive is in a “race against time.” The success of Football Manager 26 could depend on the trust and patience that the loyal fan base still has in the developer after the cancellation of FM25. “Whether you enjoy FM26 depends a little on your attitude going into it,” concludes Whenett. After all, no one has to take a financial risk: the developers will also be providing a free demo version for the full release – so you can try FM26 for free.