[Interview] The Director of the "Football Manager" Series on the Evolution of the Latest Release, "FM26," Shaped Over a Two-Year Development Period
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/936/G093625/20250930046/
Writer: Matsutani Kentarou | 2025/10/02 23:00 (UTC)
Sega has scheduled the release of its football management game “Football Manager 26” (PC / Mac / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S / Nintendo Switch) for November 5, 2025—hereafter referred to as “FM26.” Coinciding with the Tokyo Game Show 2025, Miles Jacobson, the game’s director at Sports Interactive, visited Japan. In this joint interview, he answered a wide range of questions about FM26’s new features, insights into the Japanese market, and details regarding the previously canceled “Football Manager 25” (FM25).
Miles Jacobson, Director at developer Sports Interactive Thumbnail image for Gallery No.002 / Interview: The director of the Football Manager series discusses the evolution of the latest installment, FM26, developed over a two-year period
Official Website for “Football Manager 26”
—Thank you very much for joining us today.
Miles Jacobson (hereafter, Mr. Jacobson):
Thank you. First, I’d like to say sorry for not releasing a new installment in the Football Manager series last year—it was truly regrettable. We decided against launching a game because we anticipated it wouldn’t satisfy players. However, on a positive note, many people continued playing “Football Manager 2024” (FM24) throughout that period. Globally, around four million players kept playing it consistently. Over two years, the player base reached about 20 million—this is not cumulative but actual active users. We were genuinely surprised since we hadn’t checked such metrics for some time after FM24’s release.
—Has the extended development cycle of FM26 caused more changes than usual compared to previous versions?
Mr. Jacobson:
Yes, FM26 feels significantly new overall. In fact, FM24 was our last game developed using our in-house engine; FM26 now runs on Unity, enabling a complete overhaul of both graphics and UI. The main menu is now clearer and more intuitive to navigate, making the experience much friendlier. You’ll immediately notice improvements in visual quality just by watching matches.
For years, players have said the game screen looked reminiscent of 90s titles—but I think we’ve finally moved beyond that era (laughs).
We’ve continuously debated whether to preserve traditional features or introduce new ones in FM26. Our goal has been twofold: deliver meaningful changes for longtime fans while making the game accessible and welcoming to newcomers.
—I definitely felt it was easier to play now. In FM24’s console version, using a controller made screen transitions feel cramped.
Mr. Jacobson:
Exactly—we’ve created a dedicated team specifically focused on optimizing gameplay for controllers in FM26. With the expected influx of new players, we’re placing great importance on ensuring smooth and intuitive control.
—FM24 was the first Football Manager title to feature Japanese language support. What kind of response did you get from Japan?
Mr. Jacobson:
Honestly, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We received far more players than initially expected, including many new users joining directly from FM24. The addition of J.League content was especially impactful—particularly the inclusion of J3, which garnered strong appreciation.
FM26 introduces women’s leagues as well, and we hope to see a similar impact. Historically, Japan wasn’t considered a major market for Football Manager due to lack of Japanese localization. We were happy if we reached around 40,000 players total. But after FM24 launched, that number increased by about 680%. Average playtime also rose to approximately 113 hours—very promising numbers. I believe this release was a major success and that Japan still holds significant room for growth.
We’d love you to highlight these positive figures in your article (laughs).
—While there are passionate fans who’ve followed the series since FM24, it’s also a niche game requiring knowledge of football. Did FM26 introduce any beginner-friendly features?
Mr. Jacobson:
Yes—we’ve included tutorials both for gameplay and football basics. One key feature I’d like to highlight is our search engine function called “FMpedia.” Simply type in any term you’re curious about, and it functions like a search engine or Wikipedia—displaying relevant information with related topics surfaced simultaneously. This means questions such as “What does this mean?” can be answered instantly during gameplay.
—That sounds incredibly useful.
Mr. Jacobson:
While we’ve succeeded in attracting more players to the series, data analysis revealed many users tend to leave relatively early. When asking why, common responses included: “I don’t understand football well,” or “I’m not sure where to start after launching.” So for FM26, we actively listened to global player feedback and made significant efforts—especially in UI design—to make the game more approachable.
—From your explanation, it sounds like the content in FMpedia must be massive. What data sources are used? Who writes it?
Mr. Jacobson:
I’d say I have decent football knowledge myself (laughs), so we mainly wrote it ourselves with input from our team of hardcore football enthusiasts at the studio. There were many terms not found even in official football references, so we decided to create them ourselves—drawing on years of experience, deep football knowledge, and genuine passion.
In fact, real-world clubs have used Football Manager for scouting purposes, which reinforces how seriously we take FMpedia’s content.
—Regarding beginner-friendly features, FM26 has greatly expanded its automation options. Is this a deliberate design choice?
Mr. Jacobson:
Yes, absolutely. The series attracts hardcore players who play over 100 hours, but also those who drop off early. We track exactly when these players leave and use that data to guide improvements—so automating certain tasks helps prevent early dropout.
Personally, I don’t enjoy micromanaging player training or adjustments much. So we’ve expanded automation options so each player can enjoy the game in their preferred way.
—In real football clubs, managers don’t handle everything themselves—assistant coaches manage practice plans, and front office staff negotiate salaries.
Mr. Jacobson:
Exactly—but one of Football Manager’s core strengths is its high degree of freedom in playstyle. We’ve designed it so you can manage every tiny detail as a manager if you want to, making it highly enjoyable. That said, we carefully balance realism with fun—because while replicating real football elements accurately is important, the game must also remain engaging and enjoyable.
—The inclusion of women’s football in FM26 is another significant point.
Mr. Jacobson:
I’m truly excited that we’ve been able to implement women’s football this time. The cooperation from leagues worldwide was crucial, as well as EA’s willingness to support us with exclusive licensing rights.
—Are the movements of female players captured using motion capture? Are there differences compared to men’s football matches?
Mr. Jacobson:
Yes, due to significant physical and structural differences between male and female athletes, we’ve created all animations from scratch. Additionally, FM26 introduces a new game system where player behavior adjusts based on opponents’ height—such as goalkeepers being shorter prompting shooters to aim higher.
This effect may be even more pronounced in women’s football.
Thumbnail image for Gallery No.008 / Interview: The director of the Football Manager series discusses the evolution of the latest installment, FM26, developed over a two-year period Thumbnail image for Gallery No.009 / Interview: The director of the Football Manager series discusses the evolution of the latest installment, FM26, developed over a two-year period
Transfer and contract rules also differ for women’s football—so we’ve built these systems from the ground up. While not included in FM26, we’re considering future features like maternity leave or return after childbirth.
The Football Manager series aims to faithfully recreate real-world authenticity as much as possible—and I’d love to implement such elements sooner rather than later.
—What changes should longtime players be aware of?
Mr. Jacobson:
There’s still some content we haven’t officially revealed yet—but the tactical system has been significantly enhanced. Compared to the previous title, capabilities have roughly doubled.
—FM26 now allows separate formation settings for possession and non-possession phases, plus individual role adjustments per position.
Mr. Jacobson:
Yes—the range of actions a coach can take grows with every update. In FM26, there are 17 different styles during possession and 8 in non-possession scenarios.
Why this design? Because we want to cater to hardcore players, newcomers, and casual users alike—offering flexibility for all types of gameplay.
Thumbnail image for Gallery No.010 / Interview: The director of the Football Manager series discusses the evolution of the latest installment, FM26, developed over a two-year period Thumbnail image for Gallery No.011 / Interview: The director of the Football Manager series discusses the evolution of the latest installment, FM26, developed over a two-year period
This system directly impacts match outcomes—so we strongly encourage players to use it. But we’ve also balanced complexity so as not to overwhelm newcomers. That said, remember—it’s just your “instructions” as a manager; whether the players follow them is another story (laughs).
—Are there more role options per position now?
Mr. Jacobson:
Yes. FM24 didn’t include some of these roles. We’ve added new ones by consulting real football professionals, including Premier League managers, to learn about current on-field strategies. We recreate actual coaching sessions with players and coaches, then incorporate those insights into the game—so our content keeps growing.
—FM26’s UI (main menu) includes a “Portal” screen. It seems to combine the previous homepage and inbox functions into one view.
Mr. Jacobson:
Originally, we were planning to replace traditional email with a WhatsApp-style chat system in FM25—since real managers use messaging apps more than checking emails manually. But that approach didn’t work well for a game experience. In fact, it was one of the reasons behind FM25’s cancellation—it just didn’t feel like Football Manager.
So we started fresh: rethinking everything from FM24 onward—including what hadn’t worked before. Even long-standing features need to be critically reviewed and improved if they’re inconvenient or flawed. With Portal, we returned to a traditional email-style inbox—because it captures the essence of Football Manager—but added new elements for freshness.
—In the Portal screen, I can see both my inbox and match schedule on one page—it makes accessing needed information much easier.
Mr. Jacobson:
Information clarity is crucial. The Portal shows primarily your immediate environment’s updates, so you’ll need to actively explore other clubs or regional news. To help with that, we’ve added real-time info during loading screens—so you stay informed about events happening elsewhere in the game world.
—The version I tried recently didn’t show this yet.
Mr. Jacobson:
I gave the implementation instruction right before boarding my flight to Japan—so it just missed being included (laughs).
—If a player keeps making negative choices that harm their club, will there be corresponding negative events?
Mr. Jacobson:
Think of Football Manager as an RPG: you’re playing a role in a world with about 500,000 NPCs. As the manager, you can choose to speak positively or act angrily—your choice is entirely up to you. Even if you always use positive language, some players may still lose trust in you.
We genuinely want players to enjoy the game their way. We present various dialogue options during conversations so each moment reflects your current emotional state honestly.
—Finally, any message for Japanese players? Thank you again for today.
Mr. Jacobson:
First, thank you sincerely to our dedicated fans who’ve played hundreds of hours already. And to those still playing FM24 after two years—even with many new games released, choosing ours means a lot. We’re incredibly grateful.
FM26 is coming soon—please try it if this is your first time exploring the series. The Japanese player base has grown significantly; please join and help build an exciting community around FM26.