Football Manager 25 Announces Global November Release Date

Key Highlights:

• Football Manager 25 set for global release on 26 November 2024.
• Will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass for PC and Xbox.
• Switch version launches on 3 December 2024.

Sports Interactive’s highly anticipated Football Manager 25 has finally received its official release date, marking the beginning of what the developers are calling a “new era” for the beloved soccer management simulator. The game is set to launch globally on November 26th 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox platforms.

Continuing its tradition, Football Manager 25 will be available as a day one release on Xbox Game Pass for both PC and Xbox users.

This move reinforces the game’s commitment to accessibility and its strong partnership with Microsoft’s subscription service.

The announcement trailer, while light on gameplay footage, promises significant advancements for the franchise.

Sports Interactive boasts that this iteration represents the “biggest technical and visual advancement for the series in a generation,” powered by a switch to the Unity engine.

Women’s Football Inclusion

Players can expect a revamped UI, enhanced graphical fidelity, and “new volumetric player animations taken from real football matches.”

One of the most notable additions to Football Manager 25 is the inclusion of women’s football, a first for the franchise.

This expansion demonstrates the series’ commitment to representing the broader world of the beautiful game and could attract a new audience to the management sim genre.

Women’s leagues, such as the FA Women’s Super League and NWSL, are expected to be fully integrated, offering both league and international competitions for managers to engage with.

The upcoming entry will also have the Premier League license, which means that all 20 English Premier League clubs will feature and be officially licensed.

This is a major coup, and something that fans have been requesting for years!

Nintendo Switch owners aren’t left out, though they’ll have to wait a bit longer. The Football Manager 25 Touch version for Switch is scheduled for release on December 3rd 2024.

This version will be more streamlined but is expected to retain key features like transfer negotiations, player development, and matchday tactics, making it an attractive option for on-the-go play.

For mobile gaming enthusiasts, FM25 Mobile is set to launch exclusively on Netflix on the same day as the main release, further expanding the game’s reach across platforms.

Sports Interactive reports a “record-breaking year” for the franchise, with over 14 million players across all platforms. This success sets high expectations for the upcoming release.

Game Pass Integration and Release Strategy

Pre-orders are currently available for the PC and Mac versions, offering a 10% discount for early adopters. PlayStation 5 and Xbox pre-orders are expected to launch at a later date.

Sports Interactive has traditionally offered pre-order bonuses, and the discount, combined with early access to beta versions of the game, this may encourage loyal fans to purchase early.

FM25 joins an impressive Xbox Game Pass lineup for November 2024, which includes other highly anticipated titles:

• StarCraft Remastered – Nov 5
• StarCraft 2 – Nov 5
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – Nov 19
• STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl – Nov 20
• Football Manager 25 – Nov 26

Notably, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is expected to be one of the biggest Game Pass launches of the year, adding to the competitive gaming landscape FM25 will enter.

Although, the two games target different audiences, with FM25 likely to appeal to strategy fans and football enthusiasts.

Sports Interactive have promised more details through their social channels, so it’s probably best to give them a follow if interested.

With its technical advancements, expanded content, and day one Game Pass availability, Football Manager 25 looks set to score big with both longtime fans and newcomers to the series.

The switch to the Unity engine has also opened up new possibilities for modders and the FM community, as Sports Interactive has indicated that the game’s modding tools will be more flexible and accessible than ever before.