Football Manager 26 (FM26) has launched globally but faces criticism, receiving a 23% positive rating on Steam within 24 hours of release. This puts it close to an 'Overwhelmingly Negative' rating, causing concern among its user base.
User Interface and Bugs
Players have criticized FM26's user interface for increased complexity and numerous bugs. A user commented on misaligned text, inconsistent design, and non-functional buttons. Some players noted the need for more clicks to access information compared to previous iterations, resulting from Sports Interactive's intended simplification of the interface.
Issues have included
- Frequent freezing
- Misaligned text
- Inconsistent UI design
Reception of the Match Engine
Despite technical issues, FM26's new match engine has been praised for its potential. Users note improved player animations and suggest it could signify a positive direction for the series. Critics, however, feel that while the engine is promising, the core essence of the game series has been compromised.
Diverse Perspectives
Some users found the UI improvements positive, especially FM newcomers, who appreciated the tutorial and FMPedia. Others speculate the backlash stems more from resistance to change than the actual functionality. A reviewer mentioned while the UI is better visually, it remains buggy and challenging to navigate.
PC Gamer's review stated similar UI frustrations but praised the enhancements to the match engine for its depth and detail.
Overall, while FM26 boasts innovations, these are overshadowed by UI complaints and bugs, placing pressure on Sports Interactive to address these quickly.
