Fans of the popular management simulation Football Manager (FM) series are counting down the days until they can get their hands on the latest instalment of the game.
FM24 was the most-played version in the series, which shows just how much people love managing their favourite clubs and guiding them to success.
Developers Sports Interactive (SI) have delayed the release date for FM25, but they have reassured fans the wait will be worthwhile. Read on as we take a closer look at the new game.
The Move to Unity and FM25’s New Era
FM25 is set to be one of the most ambitious releases in the franchise’s history after the game developers boldly decided to move to a brand-new engine.
The switch to Unity is exciting, but it has presented challenges for the development team at SI, which has forced them to delay the game’s launch.
FM25 was initially expected to be released in early November, but it will now be delayed until later in the month to allow the team more time to address the challenges.
Unity will help the developers improve the game’s visuals and speed up loading time, and will also allow for greater flexibility in how the game is built and played.
That means that future updates and improvements will be much easier to implement, creating more room for new features and upgrades in future versions of the game.
However, the transition to Unity has not been straightforward. The international management mode will not be playable in FM25, which has sparked criticism from fans of the game.
The A-League Will Present a Unique Challenge for Players
The A-League is often overshadowed by other major competitions, but it still offers a fresh and exciting challenge for anyone bold enough to venture into such terrain.
FM players must navigate several unique league rules, salary caps and a considerably smaller pool of talent. But therein lies the challenge and the fun.
The A-League is becoming more popular in football video games, which can be attributed to the competition’s equally increasing popularity in the real world.
This point is evidenced by the league’s growing popularity with sports bettors, who have been eager to engage with Australia’s top football competition in recent years.
The increased interest in the A-League has provided a major boost to new betting sites, who have quickly recognised the need to broaden the scope of their markets
The growing appeal of the league makes it an appealing proposition for FM players keen to explore more adventurous saves outside traditional career paths.
The Introduction of Women’s Football is a Game-Changer
Fans have been eager to see the integration of women’s football in the FM franchise and the move to Unity allows SI to finally deliver on their long-awaited promise.
Women’s football is increasingly becoming more popular around the world, especially in the United States, so the latest addition is a huge leap forward for the game series.
According to SI, FM25 will represent the women’s game with the same level of detail, depth and realism that the men’s game is renowned for.
For FM fans in the US, the integration of women’s football into the game could not come at a better time. Women’s football has become increasingly popular in America thanks in large part to the success of the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) on the international stage.
In addition to adding female players, the game’s developers also made thoughtful changes to how player profiles are displayed.
For example, FM25 will no longer show a player’s weight on their profile. This decision came after recognising that female athletes’ body metrics tend to fluctuate differently than those of their male counterparts.
It is a small but important adjustment that shows the developers’ dedication to getting things right and respecting the differences in the women’s game.