Full FM26 system requirements for Windows & Mac – plus FM24 comparison
FM26 system requirements are live on Steam and, with the new Unity engine and richer matchday, they step up from FM24. Below you’ll find clean Windows and macOS tables, a like-for-like comparison with FM24, guidance for older laptops, and a short FAQ.
New here for FM26? Watch our Matchday First Look trailer breakdown, check the release date, read what we know about the new leagues, and get up to speed on women’s football in FM26.
Jump to: Windows specs • macOS specs • FM26 vs FM24 • Matchday graphics leap • FAQ
FM26 System Requirements - Windows
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 with updates 22H2 or Windows 11 with updates 23H2 | Windows 11 with updates 23H2 |
| CPU | Desktop: Intel Core i3-530 or AMD FX-4100 • Laptop: Intel Core i3-330M or AMD A6-5200 • Requires SSE4.2 & SSSE3 | Desktop: Intel Core i5-9600 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 • Laptop: Intel Core i5-1035G7 or AMD Ryzen 7 3750H |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 12 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Desktop: NVIDIA GTX 960 or AMD R9 380 or Intel HD 530 • Laptop: NVIDIA GTX 960M or AMD R9 M375 or Intel HD 530 • 512 MB VRAM • DirectX 11 | Desktop: NVIDIA RTX 2060 or AMD RX 5600 XT • Laptop: NVIDIA RTX 2060 Mobile or AMD RX 6600M |
| Storage | 20 GB available space | 20 GB available space |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
FM26 System Requirements - macOS
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | macOS 11 Big Sur, 12 Monterey, 13 Ventura, 14 Sonoma, 15 Sequoia - with updates | macOS 13 Ventura, 14 Sonoma, 15 Sequoia - with updates |
| CPU | Apple M1 or Intel Core M | Apple M1 |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 12 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Desktop: Apple M1 or NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M or Intel HD 5000 or AMD FirePro D300 • Laptop: Apple M1 or NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M or Intel HD 5000 | Apple M1 with 1 GB VRAM |
| Storage | 20 GB available space | 20 GB available space |
FM26 vs FM24 - What changed in the specs
FM26 raises the bar in three obvious places compared to FM24 - graphics cards, recommended RAM, and storage space.
Windows comparison
| Component | FM24 Minimum | FM26 Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 or 11 - 64 bit | Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11 23H2 |
| CPU | Intel Core 2 or AMD Athlon 64 X2 | Intel Core i3-530 or AMD FX-4100 |
| RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB minimum • 12 GB recommended |
| Graphics | Intel GMA X4500 or GeForce 9600M GT or Mobility Radeon HD 3650 • 256 MB VRAM • DX11 | GTX 960 or R9 380 or Intel HD 530 • DX11 |
| Storage | 7 GB | 20 GB |
macOS comparison
| Component | FM24 Minimum | FM26 Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| OS | macOS 11 or 12 or 13 - with updates | macOS 11 to 15 - with updates |
| CPU | Apple M1 or Intel Core M | Apple M1 or Intel Core M |
| RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB minimum • 12 GB recommended |
| Graphics | Apple M1 or Intel HD 5000 or GeForce GT 750M • 256 MB VRAM • Metal | Apple M1 or GT 750M or Intel HD 5000 • Recommended: Apple M1 with 1 GB VRAM |
| Storage | 7 GB | 20 GB |
Meaning for older laptops - if FM24 only just ran in 3D on low, expect FM26 to need more compromise. The new matchday benefits from stronger GPUs and more RAM. Consider 2D classic or lowering crowd detail, shadows and anti-aliasing if you are VRAM limited.
- 8 to 12 GB RAM is the new sweet spot.
- iGPU users should keep leagues and database size sensible to avoid long sim times.
- SSD is strongly advised to keep save and load times snappy.
From FM24 to FM26 - the matchday leap
FM26’s Unity engine brings enhanced player movement, refined animations and more on-pitch detail. That visual jump is why the GPU bar is higher.
FM26 System Requirements - FAQ
Can my old laptop run FM26 - if your machine barely ran FM24 in 3D, you will likely need to drop to lower settings or 2D for FM26. The game will still run on low-end CPUs, but GPU and RAM are the main differentiators now.
Do I need Windows 11 - no, Windows 10 22H2 is supported for minimum. Recommended targets Windows 11 23H2.
How much storage does FM26 need - 20 GB available space. That is close to three times FM24’s 7 GB footprint.
Is FM26 native on Apple Silicon - yes, Apple M1 is supported. For smoother big-database saves and 3D, aim for 12 GB RAM or more.
What settings should I lower first on weak GPUs - crowd quality, shadows, anti-aliasing and texture quality. Keep resolution modest and consider 2D classic for the fastest match engine.
Why are the specs higher than FM24 - the Unity engine plus improved animations and lighting increase GPU workload. The trade off is a more authentic and modern matchday.
