Unravel the future of Football Manager with FM24's legacy, FM25's Unity engine revolution, and new features. Read our in-depth review!
A Deep Dive into the Revolutionary Future of Football Manager as Revealed by Sports Interactive
Football Manager (FM) has been a staple in the gaming community for football enthusiasts for two decades. With the recent unveiling of the studio’s future plans by Miles Jacobson, the head of Sports Interactive, the FM series promises to take us on a thrilling journey. Let's dissect this announcement and weigh the prospects.
“FM23: Our Most Played Game of All Time”
Miles began by celebrating the success of FM23. It seems Sports Interactive has tapped into new platforms, which significantly increased the game’s reach. While this is commendable, the studio acknowledges that FM23 did not quite meet the expectations of its ardent fans in terms of progression.
The Good
- Record-breaking player base: FM23’s foray into Xbox Game Pass, Apple Arcade, and PlayStation 5 has led to a whopping 5 million players.
- Positive reviews: High scores on Steam, Apple Arcade, and mobile platforms indicate that newcomers and returning players found the game highly engaging.
The Not-So-Good
- Underwhelming features: The studio admitted that some features missed the mark or were dropped altogether, leaving hardcore fans wanting more.
“FM24: The Last 20 Years Realised, and The Last of Its Kind”
This section dropped the big one. FM24 is being pitched as a ‘love letter’ to football and the series.
The Game Changer
- Seamless Save Transfers: Players will be able to transfer their save files from FM23 to FM24, a monumental feature that has been in demand for years. This keeps your story going with all the new features that FM24 will bring.
This section promises a host of improvements in FM24 and emphasizes the completion of the feature set earlier than in previous iterations.
READ ALSO: Football Manager 2024 Features Wishlist
“FM25: The Next Chapter Will Be Like Nothing Before”
This is where things get really exciting. FM25 aims to revolutionize the series.
Project Dragonfly: The Engine of Revolution
- A New Engine – Unity: FM25 will be powered by the widely acclaimed Unity engine, promising stellar graphics, powerful UI tools, and an optimal experience across platforms.
- Hyper-realistic Animations: Partnering with professionals from the football world, the studio is making strides in delivering animations that reflect the real-life movements and physics in football.
- Women’s Football: Long-awaited and eagerly anticipated, women's football is set to make its debut in FM25.
The Road Ahead
The first major FM25 reveal is scheduled for Q2 of 2024.
Final Thoughts: New Horizons or Just a Mirage?
Sports Interactive has laid down a promising roadmap. With a fresh engine in Unity, the introduction of women’s football, and superlative graphics and animations, FM25 looks set to be a watershed moment in the series.
However, as Miles Jacobson himself admitted to past shortcomings, it remains to be seen whether the studio will successfully execute this ambitious plan. The gaming community will be keeping a watchful eye as the next chapters unfold.
For now, let’s buckle up as we wait for FM24. This ‘love letter’ might just be the perfect prelude to a defining era in football simulation gaming.
Cheers to what lies ahead!
