💎 PREMIUM: Id/Wggen - High Quality

After skipping the release of Football Manager 2025 to focus on polishing FM26, you would expect something revolutionary or at least a game that feels finished. Especially considering that SI moved to a new engine they promised would “be groundbreaking.” While there is a noticeable improvement compared to the previous engine, the matches still leave a lot to be desired in terms of visuals and animations. It feels more like a modest upgrade than the step forward fans were led to believe was coming.

Unfortunately, Sports Interactive once again proves their consistent inability to meet expectations. Despite having an extra year of development, FM26 feels almost identical to the beta version, right down to the bugs, sluggish UI and questionable AI decisions that should have been ironed out long before launch.

The problems run deeper than just development. The leadership at SI has shown the same lack of accountability and awareness that has plagued the studio for years. Their poor communication, unwillingness to listen to valid feedback and habit of lashing out at content creators who highlight flaws in the game have damaged the community’s trust. It gives the impression of a leadership team that is both out of touch and unwilling to change.

At this point, Football Manager 2026 stands as a disappointing example of what happens when a studio mistakes loyalty for complacency. After an extended development cycle and countless promises, the result is the same tired experience, released in an unfinished state, wrapped in PR spin and silence.