FM26 | What’s Confirmed, What’s Rumoured, What’s Missing

Summary

The video explores the excitement surrounding *Football Manager 26*, with fans eagerly anticipating new features such as a revamped match engine, improved UI, and the inclusion of women's football. While some are hopeful for innovative changes like dynamic club events and retro databases, the speaker emphasizes that FM26 is likely to be the foundation for future growth. They draw parallels to past transitions in the game’s history, highlighting how this version will set the stage for the next 20 years. Despite possible bugs at launch, the speaker is optimistic about the game's long-term evolution and its impact on new players.

Takeaways

• 😀 FM26 marks the start of a new era, with the potential for future innovations and features over the next 20 years.
• 😀 The transition to Unity is a significant technical shift, setting the foundation for future updates and improvements in the game.
• 😀 Exciting new features include the addition of women’s football, a revamped match engine, and a completely new user interface.
• 😀 Some fans are hopeful for more in-depth features like random scenarios (e.g., a team facing financial charges) and improved database integration.
• 😀 Features like multi-club ownership and deeper financial management are on the wishlist for future updates, though FM26 might not focus on these yet.
• 😀 FM26 is expected to be a 'foundation' year, setting the stage for bigger updates in the coming versions, similar to how FM06 marked a major change.
• 😀 Content creators are excited about the new game and the opportunities for engaging with fresh content due to the revamped graphics and features.
• 😀 Despite potential bugs at launch, the community is generally positive about the direction the game is taking.
• 😀 Fans are excited to see the game grow into something that can capture the attention of new, younger players while maintaining the ‘nerdy’ simulation feel.
• 😀 The lack of a game last year helped to build anticipation and allowed the development team to focus on delivering a more polished FM26 experience.
• 😀 The silence around FM26’s development was a strategic decision to avoid releasing incorrect information, building excitement through selective reveals like the match engine footage.

Q & A

What is the overall tone of the video regarding FM26?

The tone of the video is positive and optimistic, with a strong focus on the excitement for FM26, despite acknowledging that it may not have all the features fans are hoping for. The creator sees FM26 as the foundation for the next era of the Football Manager series.

What are some of the features that fans want to see in FM26?

Some features fans are excited about include a 'played for' filter when searching for players, clubs in continental competitions tabs, dynamic scenarios like teams facing charges or financial troubles, and retro databases within the save. They also hope for more substantial consequences from financial mismanagement.

How does the creator view FM26 in terms of its role in the future of the series?

The creator believes FM26 will lay the groundwork for the next 20 years of Football Manager. It's seen as the start of a new era, much like the transition from Championship Manager to Football Manager in 2005/06.

Why does the creator think FM26 will be a success content-wise?

The creator expects FM26 to be successful content-wise because they believe content creators will have a lot to work with, generating excitement and engagement. They think the updates to the match engine, the user interface, and the integration of women’s football will attract a lot of attention.

What is the significance of the changes to the match engine and UI in FM26?

The match engine improvements and the new user interface are key updates in FM26. These changes are expected to make the game feel more modern and accessible while retaining the traditional elements that fans love. The creator anticipates that these updates will help to revitalize the series.

What does the creator mean by FM26 being 'Football Manager but looking fancier'?

By this, the creator means that FM26 will maintain the core mechanics and nerdy, statistical appeal that Football Manager fans enjoy, but it will modernize the presentation with improved graphics and a more polished interface.

What are the creator’s thoughts on potential bugs at launch?

The creator acknowledges that there might be bugs at launch, especially with the integration of Unity and the scale of changes. However, they are understanding of this, believing it’s a necessary part of bringing about big changes for future versions of the game.

What is the importance of the radio silence around FM26 before its reveal?

The creator believes that the radio silence from the developers was a strategic decision, as it prevented fans from getting false expectations. Instead of over-promising, the developers dropped key reveals like the match engine footage, which helped build excitement without risking backlash from unmet expectations.

What does the creator hope for the future of Football Manager?

The creator hopes that FM26 marks the beginning of a new era, with younger players experiencing the game in the same way the creator fell in love with it years ago. They want FM26 to be a gateway for the next generation of Football Manager fans and to retain its 'next game' feel.

How does the creator view FM26 in relation to past versions like FM08?

The creator sees FM26 as potentially being someone’s first-ever Football Manager game, similar to how FM08 was their first. They hope the game will captivate new fans and offer a similar impact on the younger generation, much like FM08 did for them.