Football Manager 26 Faces a Rocky Launch
In the realm of addictive video game franchises, few can rival the allure of Football Manager. Enthusiastic soccer fans have devoted countless hours to this annual simulation, immersing themselves in the intricacies of team management. However, the community was taken aback when it was announced that last year’s iteration would be scrapped. This decision stemmed from the ambitious scope of the project, which included significant user interface (UI) overhauls, visual enhancements, and a switch to a new game engine. The development team decided to redirect their efforts towards Football Manager 26, heralding it as a fresh beginning for Sega and Sports Interactive.
With high expectations set by the extended wait, the release on November 4 has not gone as anticipated. Despite initial excitement, the game has quickly garnered a reputation as one of the lowest-rated titles of the year on Steam.
At first glance, Football Manager 26’s player statistics on Steam appear promising. The game peaked at approximately 85,000 players at launch, a figure consistent with previous entries in the series. Currently, over 50,000 players are engaged in scouting for talent and refining their strategies, at least on Valve’s platform. Yet, a deeper dive into user reviews reveals a starkly different narrative.
With more than 2,000 English language reviews already submitted—some stemming from pre-release access and extensive gameplay—Football Manager 26 has garnered a disheartening user score of just 22% on Steam. This places it firmly in the ‘mostly negative’ category, a position no new title aspires to occupy, especially one heralded as a new chapter for such a storied series.
Fans have expressed their frustrations across a spectrum of issues, but two primary concerns stand out: the game’s perceived ‘unfinished’ state and the overhaul of its UI.
- Numerous reports indicate bugs, crashes, and performance hiccups.
- Players are also lamenting the absence of features like heat maps and international management, which were staples in earlier versions.
One user even went so far as to describe the game as “a beta for FM27,” highlighting the discontent among the community. The revamped UI, necessitated by the transition to the Unity engine, has proven particularly contentious. In a game heavily reliant on menus, a poor user experience can significantly detract from overall enjoyment.
Further analysis from various Steam data aggregators underscores the extent of Football Manager 26’s challenges. While user score data may not perfectly align with Steam’s front-end metrics, it paints a concerning picture. Among newly released games in 2025 that have received at least 50 user reviews, Football Manager 26 ranks as the second-worst, trailing even titles like Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond and Mindseye, which have faced their own controversies.
This disappointing reception is undoubtedly a blow to Sega and Sports Interactive, especially following the cancellation of FM 2025 last year. While updates are expected to address the myriad concerns—particularly regarding bugs and performance—the initial backlash from fans is striking.
For those finding Football Manager 26 less than satisfying, exploring alternatives in the best soccer games guide or testing tactical skills in top strategy games for PC might provide a welcome diversion.
