The Miscellaneous PC & vidya Games Thread

[Sheilbh]

Not sure. I didn't hear a single Northern "bastard" in those trailers

[Syt]

So, after first delaying and then cancelling the annual Football Manager release, seems Sports Interactive is back on track (for now ). I, for one, look forward to the howling and gnashing of teeth if the game is perceived to have even an iota of less depth than its predecessors.

My last info was that they would include the women's leagues as promised, but that national teams would be out for now due to the extensive reworks; not sure if that's still true.

(Video itself is unlisted on their channel...  )

[Syt]

Sortitoutsi has some comments:

https://sortitoutsi.net/content/74081/whats-being-removed-in-football-manager-26

With the official announcement of Football Manager 26, fans are buzzing about new features like the Unity engine overhaul, women's football integration, and the Premier League licence. But just as important as what's being added is what's being removed. Every new era of FM has meant saying goodbye to certain mechanics, and FM26 is no different.

Permanently Removed Features
 
Some features were already confirmed as being retired during FM25's development cycle and will not be coming back in FM26:

• Touchline Shouts: one of the most noticeable removals is Touchline Shouts. Despite being one of the most-used features in matchdays, they've been retired because they never worked as intended — commands only triggered after a stoppage, and the duration of their impact wasn't clear. The feature may return someday, but only if SI can implement it in a more realistic, responsive way. For now, it's gone.
• Social Media Screen: removed to streamline the UI and UX. Key fan interactions still appear elsewhere, but the bespoke screen is gone.
• Data Chalkboard: once used for in-depth match visualisations, its popularity dropped below 1% after the Data Hub was introduced. It's been retired permanently.
• Player Weight: for the first time in the series, player weight information has been dropped from profiles (not visible) and won't be making a return.

Features Removed in FM25, Status Unclear for FM26
 
FM25 was canceled before launch, but a number of features had already been confirmed as cut or delayed. It remains uncertain whether they will return in FM26, FM27, or later.

• International Management: was cut from FM25 on PC, Console, and Touch after SI admitted the mode wasn't up to standard, with only 5.6% of FM24 saves using it. It stayed playable on Mobile, and SI said it would return in FM26 across all platforms, just in time for the expanded 2026 World Cup, included as part of the base game. The big question is: will it still return now?
• Create-a-Club: was one of FM's most beloved side modes, but it couldn't be improved to the standard SI wanted for FM25. The plan was to bring it back in FM26 with major upgrades. With FM25 canceled, it's still not certain if the revamped version will make it into FM26 at launch — but it's high on the community's wishlist.
• Versus Mode: with a loyal but tiny fanbase (around 0.5% of players). SI admitted it hasn't begun a redesign yet. It may be reimagined in a future edition or replaced by something entirely new, but its FM26 status is unconfirmed.
• Challenge Mode: once popular, audience shrank dramatically outside of Mobile. SI is planning a complete revamp, originally scheduled for FM26 or FM27. Whether it lands in this year's edition remains unclear.
• Fantasy Draft: wasn't going to be included in FM25 at launch, with SI instead partnering with FIFAe for an official Football Manager esports event in 2024. The plan was to return with a bigger, better Fantasy Draft later in the cycle.

Touchline shouts were always weird. And half the time they seemed to serve primarily a placebo effect. "I have to do something!"

[Josquius]

I know they're paying pennies for ux roles so don't expect wonders :p

[Syt]

Well, they were promising an new (or at least overhauled) UI. Though I'll reserve judgment.

Then again, some UI design goals can be funny.

Me: "So we can add this feature to our product and our users can make these requests more easily, reducing friction."
Management: "No, we need to make it more cumbersome. We don't want them to abuse the function and ask for tons of stuff."
Me: "Well, you are in control and can reject everything, which would make it a learning process for the users. We can streamline the process so you have it easier to review ..."
Management: "No, make it harder for the users!"

 

[celedhring]

I know it may seem trifling but losing weight sucks. I always got a good chuckle of having some fat bastard in my lower league teams.

There's no way they won't have international management in a World Cup Year, surely?

[Norgy]

The CM/FM franchise has been on a downward spiral for quite some time.

Upgraded graphics? Yes. But the addition of "features" mostly have been bewildering, seen from a footballing perspective.

Retirement beckons.

[Syt]

Problem is, there's not really any alternatives in the market. EA tried for a bit with FIFA manager which was run by one of the guys who had made the (successful and irreverent) Anstoß games in Germany, but that's about it.

A lot will ride on this release, though. They promised a big overhaul to make the game ready for the future, and they were willing to skip their yearly release for it. It's do or die now.

[Syt]

I admit I got bitten by the bug again by an idle clicker on my phone which has you managing a club's finances trying to get from the bottom to the top. It's quick (a season takes 15-20 minutes if you rush it), but has no meaningful depth, so I installed FM again.

[celedhring]

Problem is, there's not really any alternatives in the market. EA tried for a bit with FIFA manager which was run by one of the guys who had made the (successful and irreverent) Anstoß games in Germany, but that's about it.

A lot will ride on this release, though. They promised a big overhaul to make the game ready for the future, and they were willing to skip their yearly release for it. It's do or die now.

I switched from buying the game every year to once every 2-3 years. Since I play lower leagues the updated database isn't that important for me, and the useless bloat they add every season is rarely worth it. I'm all for them to streamline the game a little if they update the core systems, which are essentially the same since they moved to the 3D engine.

[Syt]

Yeah. I wish they added more economic factors which were often a part of German football managers (who knew German developers liked that kind of stuff). I forget which one it was, one of the Bundesliga Managers or one of the Anstoß ones which essentially had a city builder mini game where you plopped/upgraded your facilities and infrastructure on the map. Doesn't have to be like that, but sponsor negotiations, TV deals etc. Let me be a club owner, not just a manager/director.

(Though I'd argue that it leans even more into the bloat )

There's some stuff I'm ambivalent about. I like the idea of interviews, press conferences, team talks, individual talks etc. But they become tedious FAST. But I think it can be streamlined A LOT. Make press conferences one to three questions, not 10. Or give me the full list of questions and replies to pick instead of going through it one by one. Also, make the effects more transparent (something like the tooltips from CK3 could help, e.g. "Praise Conduct" has 50% chance to boost morale for this particular player, 20% chance to slightly boost morale, 20% to have no effect and 10% to piss him off).

[Syt]

I did start a game yesterday as Badajoz in Spain's lowest league. I'm not through the pre-season, but one of my two capable forwards is on his third injury. And my squad is <15 players unless I fill up with youth players aged 16 (I had disabled first transfer window). A hot prospect aged 16 who I gave a professional contract to at 11:50 am had a months-long injury at 1:49 pm same day. Also, my staff kept asking me to hire more staff, though there was no room in the budget (amusingly, my shitty Assistant Manager kept asking me to hire a new, better, Assistant Manager   I think I will start over elsewhere. ).

[Norgy]

I've had great fun taking unfancied FK Lyn 1896 from third tier football into Europe. When the fourth went past the RB Salzburg goalie, it felt like I had accomplished something.

Finances have not been a problem, because of the low stature of the club. Any talented player will leave, and fill the bank accounts.

The problem is signing players. "Promise to strengthen the midfield". I suppose we could put a concrete sculpture there... 

[celedhring]

My last challenge was taking a lower league Italian team and signing only bald players, to cope with my receding hairline.

It was hilarious, but scouting was certainly a pain (had to click through each player individually to see his picture).

[Syt]

In FM23 I was playing Como in lowest Italian league. Was a bit surprised to see they're top floor now.