FM25 release date speculation: New features and latest news

As a seasoned Football Manager player with over a decade of virtual football management under my belt, I must say, this FM25 update leaves me both excited and slightly bewildered. The new UI and Unity Engine promise to bring an enhanced graphical experience that’s sure to make every tactical decision feel more immersive. However, the removal of Touchline Shouts, Social Media screen, Data Chalkboard, and Create-A-Club has left me a bit apprehensive.

On Sundays afternoons during the resumed football season, many folks are likely found at home, offering their expertise as armchair strategists, vocalizing advice and instructions towards the television screen.

As the launch date for Football Manager 25 approaches, we’ll once more have an opportunity to prove who the true tactical genius is between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta in this simulation game.

In this upcoming version of our yearly management simulation game, players can expect a significant upgrade in gameplay mechanics after quite some time. The game’s interface is being completely revamped, as it transitions to the Unity gaming engine, and for the first time ever, women’s football will be available to play.

In a special interview, we were informed by the game’s leader that “this is an incredibly thrilling period for our team,” and that incorporating women’s leagues within the game has proven to be “a tremendous amount of effort.

Due to recent updates, the launch date for the game has been shifted, and several aspects of it have undergone changes. Let’s explore what’s new with FM25.

When is the FM25 release date? Our best guess

As stated on the game’s official blog, it appears that the release of FM25 is scheduled for the later part of November 2024.

Initially, the release of the game was planned for some time within early to mid-November, aligning it with previous Football Manager releases.

Nonetheless, Miles Jacobson, who leads Sports Interactive – the studio behind the game, mentioned that the process of creating FM25 has proven to be a difficult task for the entire team.

He stated that transitioning our entire game to the Unity engine would prove challenging, and as we’ve delved deeper into the project, it’s become clearer that it’s more difficult than initially expected.

Subsequently, FM 25’s release date has been moved back by several weeks.

Jacobson mentioned that a formal declaration about the release of the game is expected towards the end of September; however, he didn’t specify an exact release date.

Can I pre-order FM25?

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to pre-order Football Manager 25 at this time. The pre-order option will become available once an official release date for the game has been announced.

Which consoles and platforms can play FM25?

In simple terms, the PC/Mac version of FM25 will become available first, as announced by Sports Interactive and Sega. On the other hand, Football Manager 25 Console will be introduced on platforms like Xbox One, Series X/S, and PS5 at a later date.

Both versions of Football Manager 25, namely Football Manager 25 Touch and Football Manager 25 Mobile, are expected to be launched across platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS devices.

We’ll make changes to the page once Sports Interactive discloses which platforms Football Manager Touch 2025 and its mobile version will be accessible on.

FM25 gameplay: New features detailed

According to the Sports Interactive development team, “For the first time in many years, it’s going to be a genuine sequel.” (This version maintains the original meaning but uses simpler language for easier understanding.)

In their formal announcement, the development team outlined that the Unity engine will introduce a novel graphics system, an updated user interface, sophisticated animations, and women’s football (with numerous other enhancements available on multiple platforms).

After publishing the latest blog update, you now have a better understanding of the changes made to the gameplay as well as new features. In essence, this is our most significant transformation since we switched from our old brand to Football Manager, and it’s also the largest technical change in over two decades.

Expect plenty of the features you know and love to be removed or changed in big ways.

Women’s football in FM25

Regarding the inclusion of women’s football in the game, our recent interview with Ant Farley, design manager at Sports Interactive for Football Manager, reveals that the development team is committed to ensuring a thoughtful and accurate representation. You can find the full interview linked in the introduction!

He continues: “The level of detail to which we simulate the men’s game, we need to be doing the same for the women’s game.”

As a passionate moviegoer, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll have the unique opportunity to effortlessly switch between leading both male and female teams within the same universe. It’s all about “one story, one community.

Removed options/modes

If you aspire to emulate Gareth Southgate’s career path in Football Manager 25, you might need to reconsider your plans because international management won’t be featured in the PC, console, or Touch versions of the game. However, you can still manage nations in FM25 Mobile edition.

The “Touchline Shouts” feature has been discontinued permanently, as confirmed by the development team.

The Social Media screen has also been removed, but “supporters are still an integral part of the game”.

All FM25 player profiles have been altered so their weight will no longer be visible.

What’s more, the Data Chalkboard has been removed, too.

It’s important to note that “the majority of current data metrics and visualizations are likely to remain within the FM25 system.

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I must share some disappointing news – Create-A-Club, sadly, won’t grace our screens in Football Manager 25. But fear not! This beloved feature is set for a grand comeback in FM26 with a host of new changes and enhancements that will surely make it even more captivating than before.

The remodeling of the Versus Mode hasn’t begun yet, however, it might be replaced by something new or come back in an entirely transformed way.

Challenge Mode “is currently scheduled to return completely revamped in either FM26 or FM27”.

To clarify, the Fantasy Draft feature won’t be available immediately upon release of Football Manager 25. However, it will come back later with significant enhancements, coinciding with the Main Data Update during the game’s development cycle.

The team announced: ‘We’re planning to make mid-development stage updates a common occurrence for the series from now on.’

New UI and Unity Engine

In simpler terms, Football Manager 25 will now run on the Unity Engine, bringing about a fresh, revamped User Interface (UI) design. Essentially, this change results in a more visually appealing and improved visual quality compared to its previous versions.

“FM25’s new UI/UX is driven by what we have called a ’tile and card’ system.”

In the screenshot provided, you’ll notice a demonstration of the updated design for player forms, serving as an illustrative example.

In a massive change, the Inbox is now gone, replaced instead by the Portal.

According to a formal announcement, “The Portal” will serve as a more comprehensive gateway to the vast football world. It will provide you with advanced tools for crafting your narrative using the Agenda and Messages sections, while also offering you deeper insights into current events and matches through the News and Matches tabs.

You can see a work in progress screenshot of the new Portal below:

The development team additionally offered a sneak peek into the progress of the match screen, which will be displayed during highlight reels. Take a look at it here: (link or image provided)

At last, Football Manager 25 now holds an official license for the Premier League! You can anticipate authentic branding, real-life player images, and other enhancements that will elevate Football Manager 25 above its predecessors.

Is there an FM25 trailer?

As of now, there’s no FM25 trailer showcasing the entire game. However, you can watch the Football Manager 25 Premier League License Reveal Trailer instead, which is available below:

2024-09-16 16:34