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Until this year, Football Manager had followed a predictable pattern, releasing a new edition every year. Much like other annual franchises such as Call of Duty, EA FC, and NBA 2K, it slotted neatly into the yearly football calendar. However, with the death of Football Manager 2025, this year has been a disaster for the series, raising the question: should Football Manager consider breaking away from its traditional release cycle?
A fantastic article from SportsPro highlighted why annual sports game releases might no longer be sustainable. Additionally, in my conversation with popular Football Manager YouTuber Zealand, he explained why he believes the game should ditch this model. But what alternatives are there?
For decades, Football Manager has stuck to the annual release format, but the gaming industry has evolved. Many sports and simulation games have experimented with different release models, and Football Manager could do the same. In this article, I’ll explore different approaches Football Manager could take and give my opinion on the best option. Enjoy!
The Easiest Option – Live-service model (subscription based)
One possible route is for Football Manager to become a live-service game, operating on a subscription-based model. Instead of purchasing a new game each year, players would pay a monthly or annual fee for access to real-time updates, including squad changes, tactical tweaks, and engine improvements.
This model is rumoured to be where EA Sports FC is heading, which should serve as a massive red flag. The last thing we need is Football Manager becoming EA FC, riddled with monetisation schemes and prioritising financial gain over gameplay depth. Games like The Sims 4, World of Warcraft, and FIFA Ultimate Team have embraced live-service mechanics, but they often sacrifice quality for constant monetisation.
The Sensible Option – Generational release model
A much better alternative would be the generational release model. Instead of annual updates, Football Manager could launch a new version every three to five years, supported by regular updates in between. This is the approach taken by Rainbow Six Siege, Counter-Strike 2, GTA Online, and The Elder Scrolls Online—games that prioritize long-term improvements over yearly iterations.
This would allow for deeper gameplay advancements rather than minor, incremental changes. It would make long-term saves more viable and give Sports Interactive time to overhaul key mechanics. However, this approach comes with risks—primarily financial. If the game isn’t released annually, profits would take a hit, and player engagement could dwindle if updates feel slow or uninspired. If the updates are half-hearted, players will simply lose interest.
Another possibility is a seasonal or yearly pass system, similar to Fortnite’s Battle Pass or Destiny 2’s seasonal content. Players would pay for ongoing updates instead of purchasing a new game outright. This trend is growing across the gaming industry, with games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Halo Infinite, and Apex Legends embracing battle passes and live events to maintain engagement.
While this could provide fresh content throughout the year, it’s a dangerous road. If not handled properly, Football Manager could end up prioritizing premium content over core gameplay. The base game would need to remain engaging enough that non-paying players don’t feel excluded. Otherwise, it risks alienating the player base and creating a pay-to-win ecosystem—something no one wants in a management sim.
A far more radical idea would be transforming Football Manager into a community-driven, open-source project. Sports Interactive would still oversee the core game, but modders and third-party developers could contribute features and updates.
We’ve already seen how dedicated the Football Manager modding community is, with database updates, skins, and realism mods improving the game every year. While full open-source development is unlikely due to revenue concerns, SI could embrace a semi-open model, where they collaborate directly with modders. Games like RimWorld, Cities: Skylines, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim have thrived because of their communities—so why not Football Manager?
Final thoughts
If Football Manager ever moves away from its annual release cycle, the generational release model seems like the best option. It would allow for meaningful overhauls and deeper gameplay innovations while maintaining a steady flow of updates between releases.
That said, there’s a reason why games like Football Manager and Call of Duty stick to annual releases—money. These franchises have built their entire financial model around yearly sales, making a shift difficult in the short term. But in an ideal world, I’d love to see a Football Manager released every three years, with major gameplay overhauls and semi-annual squad updates.
The other options? No thanks. I don’t want Football Manager riddled with battle passes and microtransactions. When a game prioritizes monetization over gameplay, it inevitably ruins the experience (cough Call of Duty cough). If SI ever considers drastic changes, they need to focus on quality—because games that release for the sake of releasing, without meaningful improvements, are painful to witness.
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