Football Manager 26 Now Has 'Mostly Negative' Reviews on Steam

After two years of anticipation, Football Manager 26 is finally out, but it seems to be struggling to satisfy fans, with Steam reviews currently sitting at Mostly Negative. In contrast, Football Manager 26‘s predecessor, FM24, holds a Very Positive average user review on Valve’s storefront, suggesting that developer Sports Interactive might be in a difficult spot this time.

Many fans were disappointed when Football Manager 25 was cancelled due to development complications and the fact that management wasn’t happy with the quality of the game. The silver lining was that the developer would have time to polish the next major entry, aiming to create a better title with the new game engine and updated graphics. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case with the newest release, as its reviews reflect a lackluster launch rather than the glorious revival many had hoped for.

At the time of writing, out of over 4,000 reviews on Football Manager 26‘s Steam page, only 22% are positive, meaning 78% of players are dissatisfied. While fans have many complaints, the most common issues are the game’s new UI, often described as clunky, along with performance problems and disappointing gameplay changes. Many argue that Sports Interactive has simplified core mechanics to make the game more accessible to newcomers, but in doing so, it has made the simulation less immersive for veteran players seeking the most realistic and detailed management experience.

Underlining the drastic gameplay changes in Football Manager 26, one player wrote, “Feels like [Sports Interactive] wanted to do something so new and different that it left out the things that were most liked by the players.” Another added, “Having played [Football Manager] for two decades, I can say that this is the worst iteration ever.” Social media is also full of players sharing screenshots and videos of the game’s performance issues. Frame rate drops, visual glitches, and reportedly laggy menus have led many to return to Football Manager 24 rather than invest time in the latest installment.

Football Manager 26 isn’t faring well with critics either. According to review aggregator OpenCritic, the game has an average score of 72 out of 100, with only 44% of critics recommending it. In comparison, Football Manager 24 holds a score of 83 out of 100, putting it on par with many of the best sports management games of the decade.

It also doesn’t help that Football Manager 26 launched without a day-one patch, meaning at least some issues spotted during the beta may have remained in the final release. Players are now hoping Sports Interactive will start rolling out hotfixes and patches to restore the franchise’s reputation, as Football Manager has long been one of the most popular sports series across gaming platforms. Many also see this as a make-or-break moment for the series, with its future hinging on how the developer handles the current situation. On the bright side, the first patch is imminent, giving Sports Interactive a good opportunity to fix the game’s most pressing issues.