After a two-year wait, Football Manager 26 has finally hit the market, but the response from fans has been less than enthusiastic. Currently, the game holds a Mostly Negative rating on Steam, a stark contrast to its predecessor, FM24, which boasts a Very Positive average user review. This situation indicates that the developer, Sports Interactive, may be facing significant challenges this time around.
The disappointment for many fans began with the cancellation of Football Manager 25, which was attributed to development complications and management dissatisfaction with the game's quality. The silver lining from this setback was the expectation that the additional time would allow Sports Interactive to refine the next installment. With promises of a new game engine and enhanced graphics, hopes were high for a thrilling comeback. Sadly, Football Manager 26 has not delivered the anticipated revival, with player reviews indicating a lackluster launch.
As of now, out of over 4,000 reviews on the Steam page for Football Manager 26, only 22% are positive, highlighting that a staggering 78% of players are left dissatisfied. Common complaints include the game's new user interface (UI), which many describe as clunky, alongside various performance issues and disappointing gameplay changes. Critics argue that in an attempt to make the game more accessible to newcomers, Sports Interactive has simplified core mechanics, ultimately diminishing the immersive experience that veteran players crave.
One player encapsulated this sentiment, stating, “Feels like Sports Interactive wanted to do something so new and different that it left out the things that were most liked by the players.” Another long-time fan lamented, “Having played Football Manager for two decades, I can say that this is the worst iteration ever.”
The issues don’t end there; social media platforms are flooded with players sharing screenshots and videos showcasing the game’s performance problems. Reports of frame rate drops, visual glitches, and laggy menus have prompted many to revert back to Football Manager 24 rather than invest in the latest installment. This situation paints a troubling picture for a franchise that has long been a staple in sports gaming.
Critically, Football Manager 26 is not faring much better. Review aggregator OpenCritic shows the game with an average score of 72 out of 100, with only 44% of critics recommending it. This stands in sharp contrast to Football Manager 24, which enjoyed a score of 83 out of 100, placing it among the best sports management games of the decade.
Compounding the game's issues, Football Manager 26 launched without a day-one patch, leaving some bugs identified during the beta phase unresolved in the final release. As players express their frustrations, many are eager for Sports Interactive to address these issues with timely hotfixes and patches to help restore the franchise's esteemed reputation.
The current situation represents a critical juncture for the Football Manager series, with its future possibly hinging on how effectively Sports Interactive responds to the feedback and resolves the issues at hand. Fortunately, the first patch is on the horizon, providing the developer an opportunity to rectify the game’s most pressing problems and regain the trust of its dedicated fanbase.
