We had an announcement from Sports Interactive (SI) regarding the future of Football Manager (FM) during the current pandemic that we're facing in the world. SI made is clear that they wanted the game to remain an escape from the current situation in the world. Hence previously, Sports Interactive have allowed people to play FM20 for free for a fortnight back in March and took part in a bunch of charity initiatives including the UKIE-managed ‘Games for Carers’ programme and the Humble Black Lives Matter bundle and provided free in-game advertising to a number of mental health charities around the world.
In the announcement, it was made clear that SI has continued to work on future FM releases. Recently, the announcement that FM gamers always wait for - the announcement of the next instalment of FM - FM21.
Going onto the FM website, we get a glips at the future of Football Manager with brief blurb regarding the game:
"Unrivalled simulation gaming. Experience the closest thing to being a real manager by taking charge of the world’s greatest football teams and playing the beautiful game your way. Football Manager is a living, breathing game world of unparalleled realism and achieves football authenticity that other football games can only aspire to.
The professional world of football has been carefully modelled and recreated to empower you with all the managerial power and tools to create your own football story and live out your dreams. Buy the players you want. Set the tactics you favour. Lift the trophies you desire. Your club, your way."
FM21 delivers dynamic and fresh true-to-life management experiences that renew the focus on you, the beating heart of your football club. You are equipped with more tools than ever before to develop your managerial prowess and command success at your club. New additions and game upgrades produce unparalleled levels of football authenticity as well as extra layers of depth and drama.
Full details of what’s new in FM21 including licensing updates will drop on the official social channels of Football Manager in early October, so get following now to get ahead of the game. Of course, we will be providing updates here at FM Base regarding anything Football Manager 2021 so, go ahead and follow us on social media.
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Football Manager 2021’s Release Date
On the 24th of September, the news became official, the will be released on Tuesday 24th of November 2020 on a PC and MAC. FM21 will be available on several platforms. The official announcement revealed that Football Manager will return to Xbox – the first time since 2007/08! In addition to the original Football Manager 2021 PC and MAC version, the line-up of Football Manager 2021 editions also includes FM21 Touch and FM21 Mobile who will be available across iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch coming at a later date.
To continue the tradition, the Football Manager 2021 Early Access or beta release will be approximately 2 weeks prior to the official release date. The Football Manager 2021 beta release and early access is only available by pre-purchasing Football Manager 2021 on Steam or from a participating digital retailer. Football Manager 2021 will also debut on the Epic Games Store.
Football Manager 2021 Xbox Edition - What will it look like?
FM21 on Xbox will be modelled on the simplified version of Football Manager, Football Manager Touch. The game will be fully customised for optimal performance with the Xbox controller. This means you'll be able to play Football Manager 2021 on Xbox One and Series X or S. Microsoft’s Play Anywhere functionality will allows you to kick-off your career in style on console and then pick-up your season on any Windows 10 PC. The release date of the Xbox version is currently set to December 2020.
Football Manager 2021 System Requirements
Windows (Minimum Specs):
OS: Windows 7 (SP1), 8/8.1, 10 (Update 1903/May 2019 or later) – 64-bit
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
Intel Core 2 or AMD Athlon 64 – 1.8 GHz +
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: Intel GMA X4500, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or AMD/ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 – 256MB VRAM
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 7 GB available space
Mac OS X (Minimum Specs):
10.13.6, 10.14.6, 10.15.5, 11 – 64-bit
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system (Recommended)
Intel Core 2 Duo – 1.8 GHz +
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: Intel GMA X4500, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or AMD/ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 – 256MB VRAM macOS 10.14 and later requires Metal API: Version 1 macOS 10.13 requires OpenGL: Version 2.1
Storage: 7 GB available space
Other: macOS 10.14 and later requires Metal API: Version 1 macOS 10.13 requires OpenGL: Version 2.1
Football Manager 2021 Annoucements
On the 12th October, we got treated to a glimpse of potential new features that will be on FM21. The official Football Manager Twitter released the following video
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1315678160567099393
Key highlights from the video include: "build your squad", "find your targets", "handle the media", "prepare for match day", "perfect your tactic", "motivate your players", "manage the game in more detail", "dominate the touchline". All of these key highlights from the video hint at new features for the game. Keen-eyed individuals will spot slight changes to the UI and some additions to certain areas of the game. Below we'll go through each headline and include a screengrab accompanied with an explanation or what we could phrase a prediction of what the screengrab COULD be.
Build Your Squad
The image above shows minor UI changes to what looks like match fitness graphics. Now we have a green heart accompanied with a green thumbs up and a yellow downward arrow.
Find Your Targets
It seems we're getting more additions to recruitment on FM21. The two biggest hints shown in the video included the addition to ask a player's agent about their transfer availability. Another addition includes the addition of a 'Recruitment Meeting'. What the image shows is what appears to be a meeting surrounding recruitment going into an upcoming transfer window. This will definitely help with squad building and finding those targets that you may not think of targeting. There is also a brief overiew of positions that have players running out of contract or positions that need more depth adding to them.
Perfect Your Tactics
A much-requested feature has finally been added to the game. xG graphs, the term xG in football is an abbreviation which stands for 'expected goals'. It is a statistical measurement of the quality of goalscoring chances and the likelihood of them being scored. This adds more analytical detail to the game allowing players to access all sorts of data. An xG measurement can be generated for both teams as a whole and individual players, giving an indication as to how well they should be performing in front of the goal.
Motivate Your Players
Psychological aspects of human behaviour started being added to the game with the introduction of Squad Dynamics, reactions to teams talks, squad hierarchy (leadership scale). It seems FM21 will add another level to the psychological facets of the games with the addition of body language. In the image, we see that the manager opens his arms which has a positive effect of the player's body language. These additions should help with player interaction and thus affect building your reputation as a manager.
Handle The Media
The way that players handle the media on FM21 has been tweaked. During press conferences, you'll be able to see all journalist in attendance. There seems to be the addition of selection when it comes to which journalists' question a manager wants to answer by clicking on the journalist's box. The media is one way to build your profile as a manager and a way to get your point of view across when necessary.
Dominate The Touchline
Another UI tweak during games. It appears that the manager's squad will be available at the bottom of the screen. This seems to make it easier to make quick subs. What can also be seen in this image is the fitness hearts showing the differing level of player's fitness.
Other Additions
Leicester FC is now licenced to in the game.
The new 'moments to remember'. This addition is minor but shows some key highlights of the season.
Match Engine
The features video did not reveal much in the way of improvements to the match engine. However, we would guess that there have been minor animation tweaks with additional animations to passing, shooting, player movement etc
Football Manager 2021 Giveaway
Fancy your chances at winning a free copy of Football Manager 2020? Then luck is on your side, as we have three to giveaway now, three to giveaway when Beta drops and three to giveaway on full release. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps and you could get your hands on a free copy of FM21, courtesy of our friends, Gamebillet. Click on the link below to enter the giveaway.
FM21 Giveaway
Pre-Order Football Manager 2021
Here at FM Base, we're lucky to be affiliated with Gamebillet which gives us the opportunity for you to purchase the game for £30.72, much less than the retail price! Similar to previous years, FM Touch, the simplified version of the game, will be included for free (PC/Mac only) when pre-ordering FM21. Also, included in the pre-order will be BETA access to FM21 which will give you the ability to play the game two weeks before the official release. Click on the following link to pre-order the game
PRE-ORDER