Sports Interactive has unveiled the latest improvements to Football Manager 26, with more than 300 fixes to the game implemented. However, there’s one squashed bug that has players cackling.
Continuing their commitment to enhancing the virtual management experience, Sports Interactive regular updates addressing player feedback. Update 5 brings approximately 300 fixes to various bugs, issues and features, as the developers work to address concerns from some who labelled the game « unplayable » at launch. Crucially, this latest patch introduces a feature that supporters have been demanding since release.
However, Sports Interactive has opted to release Update 5 initially through the Steam Public Beta Track before rolling it out more widely. This means players eager to experience the enhanced version of FM26 will need to access it via Steam for now.
There’s currently no confirmed date for when the update will become available to all players. Based on previous release patterns, though, FM enthusiasts can anticipate gaining access to Update 5 within a matter of days, if not sooner.
Sports Interactive announced that the update went live on the Steam Public Beta Track on Wednesday, 10 December. This has allowed players to finally experience one significant change that many argue should have been included from day one.
Developers have introduced a substantial overhaul to the half-time and full-time screens during matchday. The half-time and post-match report now offers considerably more useful info, displaying expanded information whilst occupying more screen real estate and reducing wasted space.
Both teams’ formations and player ratings are now prominently displayed, alongside match statistics, data and live scores and tables for the relevant competition. Gamers have voiced their approval on social media, with Reddit users particularly welcoming the enhancement.
One commented: « Am I dreaming? Useful information easily accessible in FM26? » Another remarked: « This new halftime/end of match screen is what we should have during the match. Not post match. During. »
A third responded: « Agreed we need it during but it’s a start at least. Fundamentally ridiculous this wasn’t the default on release. »
Another modification has captured players’ attention, with one bug proving particularly amusing: « ‘Players who have recently left the team no longer display as an option for Set Piece Takers.’ What a bug lol. »
Another quipped: « Would be hysterical if they’d actually show up just to take your set pieces. »
However, not everything has been plain sailing. One user highlighted: « There is a new bug after the update. When you select players after a finished match and go to Training → Rest → 1 day, all selected players are automatically moved to ‘surplus to requirements’, and they become unhappy. »
The new patch includes « 300+ changes », according to a member of Sports Interactive’s community team. Writing on the developer’s official forum, they confirmed that the update would have to be delayed outside of the Steam Public Beta Track due to a knock-on issue.
The statement read: « After rolling out via the Steam Public Beta Track yesterday, a knock-on issue was identified that would cause players to be incorrectly offered out for transfer if multiple players were selected to be rested. This has now been addressed.
« Pushing out this hotfix also allowed us to include a few other changes that missed the previous deadline. There have been further stability improvements made, while also rectifying a display issue with the Live Table position change arrows.
« We’ll continue to monitor feedback over the next few days with an aim of a full platform rollout next week. Thank you for your support. »
The full list of changes can be found on the Sports Interactive forum, but here are some of the key improvements made in the FM26 Update 5 changelist:
Technical Issues
- Various Crash and Stability fixes.
- Fixed a softlock when selecting the Best of the Rest club expectation, then removing it when accepted.
- In-game items (Tactics, set pieces, shortlists, etc) will now show the correct time when saved.
- Fixed a rare issue where certain saves couldn’t be loaded after switching from the Steam Public Beta Track in the last update.
- Fixed a rare issue of crowd noise audio continuing after the match has been completed.
User Interface (UI)
- Improved half time and post-match report screen (shown below). Improved past-match report screen.
- Fixed an issue with the NXGN & Top Player in the World Award news items not displaying all the candidates.
- Fixed an issue where the UI would become unresponsive after selecting the same Shout option twice in a row.
- Players who have recently left the team no longer display as an option for Set Piece Takers.
Gameplay
- Improvements to player logic for wanting a new contract.
- Resolved an issue where loan players were recalled to be sold at illogical times of the season.
- Fixed a rare issue where AI club would make future fee loan bid for player who has just joined the users club.
- Loan players can no longer get recalled if the loan club has trigged the buy clause.
- Fixed an issue where the Qualifying for UEFA Champions League conditional future fee would be triggered by qualifying for any European Competition.
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