FM25 Eliminates Key Feature, Requiring Players to “Reteach” Gameplay Skills

Football Manager 2025 is making significant changes by eliminating several long-standing features that have been a staple of the series for years. A leading developer has shared insights with fans about why these essential systems are being replaced.

Over the past two decades since its debut in 2005, Football Manager has established itself as the premier series for football fans looking for an authentic managerial experience. Unlike FIFA and EA SPORTS FC, which focus on the action on the pitch, FM emphasizes the strategy and management behind the scenes.

Fans have grown accustomed to specific features included in every edition. However, with the unveiling of FM25 back in June, developers announced that several traditional systems and modes would not be returning for this new installment.

One of the most notable removals is the Inbox page, which served as the primary interface for players to oversee their team’s activities. In an interview with Eurogamer, Studio Director Miles Jacobson explained that the shift towards realism is the reason behind this significant change.

“It’s very rare that you see a football manager with a laptop,” Jacobson stated, acknowledging that while players will still receive notifications similar to before, these will be presented in a new format. He added that managers use tablets and phones reflecting a more modern approach. “The football world never really had email.”

Despite acknowledging that this adjustment may require players to “relearn”various aspects of gameplay, Jacobson assured fans that the “core loop” of Football Manager will remain familiar.

FM25 players celebrating — Sports Interactive

The Inbox has been a central part of FM for many years.

In addition to the Inbox, the game will also omit touchline shouts, the primary method of communicating with players during matches to offer encouragement or commands. Jacobson noted concerns regarding the effectiveness of this feature, stating, “It’s not up to our standards, it didn’t work the way that consumers thought it worked.”

He emphasized the decision not to carry over features that did not meet quality expectations, stating, “So when we’re looking at that and going, well, do we port something across from our old game that isn’t good enough? The answer is ‘no.’”

Several game modes will also be absent from FM25, including Challenge Mode and the notably less popular International Management. Data indicated that community engagement with these modes was minimal, with only 0.5% and 5.6% of players utilizing each one, respectively.

Jacobson explained, “We’ve looked really hard at international management in FM and determined that what we were planning to deliver wouldn’t reach our initial quality threshold,” and confirmed that a more comprehensive version of international management will return in FM26.

Football Manager 2025 is scheduled for release in “late November,” leaving fans eager to see how these changes will be received by the community.

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