It’s the launch that many in the football world thought might never come.
After the shocking cancellation of Football Manager 25, the pressure was on Sports Interactive to deliver something truly special, a genuine leap forward for the beautiful game.
Today, that wait is over, and the new era has begun. Football Manager 26 has launched and it’s not just an update; it’s a total redefinition, built from the ground up on the Unity engine.
The best news for budding gaffers? Both Football Manager 26 (for PC) and Football Manager 26 Console (for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One) are available to play Day One on Game Pass.
A Legacy, Redefined on New Foundations
This is the most significant leap forward for the franchise in a generation. The entire game has been rebuilt on the Unity engine, moving away from the old foundations and setting the stage for a new legacy.
Powered by Unity, FM26 delivers the richest Matchdays in series history. This isn’t just a visual polish; it’s a complete overhaul. With enhanced player movement, greater on-pitch detail, and fresh motion capture, players attack with more personality than ever.
You’ll feel the adrenaline of that weaving run and the inch-perfect through ball that sets up an unforgettable, last-gasp title winner.
The Premier League Joins the Action
It’s the license fans have been dreaming of. For the first time, the Premier League is fully-licensed with official club badges, kits, and player photos, delivering new heights of authenticity as you pursue the biggest prize in domestic football.
In another massive, long-awaited move, the women’s game makes its debut. This isn’t a separate mode; it’s seamlessly integrated into the FM ecosystem as one complete footballing world. This opens up fresh challenges, untold stories, and a whole new database of talent to discover as you take charge of clubs from the WSL and 13 other leagues across 11 nations.
Total Football, Total Control
Both versions of the game benefit from a game-changing UI overhaul, primed for the modern manager.
A newly integrated Portal acts as your gateway to the wider footballing world, surfacing essential information exactly when you need it, empowering you to manage more instinctively. FM26 Console delivers effortless, instinctive console control, while the PC version gives you the cutting-edge of tactical realism, including customisable in and out-of-possession formations.
The transfer market has also been rebuilt. You can now harness the power of TransferRoom to shape your title-winning squads. Broadcast your recruitment priorities to worldwide clubs and gain direct insight into your rivals’ needs, giving you smarter, more targeted control over every signing.
The Return of a Beloved Obsession
This launch has been a long time coming. We first heard rumblings of a November release date for Football Manager 26 back in September, which was a huge relief after the shock cancellation of Football Manager 25. This is a franchise we, like many, simply cannot escape. In our 4/5 review of Football Manager 2024 Console, we said it best:
“every time I think I’m out… they pull me back in. There’s next to no chance that you’ll be able to fire up FM24 Console and not allow it to get its hooks into you…“
With a new engine and the addition of women’s football, FM26 looks set to get its hooks into us all over again.
Your Manager’s Contract
Both Football Manager 26 (PC) and Football Manager 26 Console (Xbox) are available today. You can purchase either Standard Edition for £49.99.
Or, you can play both right now, as they are Day One launches on Game Pass. The PC version is available on PC Game Pass, and the Console version is available on Xbox Game Pass.
Furthermore, Football Manager 26 Console is an Xbox Play Anywhere title, meaning a single digital purchase (or your Game Pass sub) gets you the game on both your Xbox console and your Windows PC with full cross-progression.
Sports Interactive Studio Director, Miles Jacobson, said: “The launch of FM26 is the start of a new era for our games. FM26 has marked a record pre-purchase period for the series, with more than 100,000 people playing the game within the first 45 minutes of the Advanced Access Beta being live. Since then, we’ve seen more than 200,000 playing every day. With this year’s release now available across multiple platforms, we’ll be continuing to iterate and improve as we lay the foundations for the next 20 to 30 years for the studio.“
Your Gaffer’s Guide
Here’s what you can expect from this new season of football:
- Rebuilt from the Ground Up on the powerful Unity Engine.
- Available Day One on Xbox and PC Game Pass.
- The Premier League is now fully-licensed with official kits, badges, and player photos.
- The long-awaited Debut of Women’s Football, fully integrated into the world.
- A Game-Changing UI Overhaul with the new Portal system.
- Advanced Tactical Innovations and transformative transfer tools.
- FM26 Console features full Xbox Play Anywhere support.
The touchline is calling, the tactics board is empty, and a new era for the beautiful game is waiting. If you’re a Game Pass member, your next great obsession is here. If you’re a lapsed fan, this is the one to pull you back in. Football Manager 26 is ready for your vision.
Stay tuned for our thoughts.
Football Manager 26 Description
New foundations set the stage for you to shape your football destiny. Built on the Unity engine, FM26 Console places you at the heart of the beautiful game. This is the legacy, redefined.
 and Football Manager 26 Console (for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One) are available to play Day One on Game Pass.){kind=link}