Football Manager 23 Release Date, Trailer, And Gameplay
Developed by Sports Interactive and published by Sega, "Football Manager" is a highly realistic football (soccer) sim which puts players in the shoes of a manager of a football club who must guide their team to glory. Since its debut in 1992 as "Championship Manager," the series has built up a fanbase dedicated to the act of managing a club. Some players have even worn their best suits for a cup final and set off a flare in their bedroom after winning a league title.
Soon, this dedicated following will have the chance to experience the next installment in the beloved IP: "Football Manager 23." Its predecessor, "Football Manager 22" was considered another solid entry in the 30-year-old franchise, earning an 85 critical score on Metacrtic and a designation as one of 2021's top new releases on Steam. But how does Sports Interactive plan to improve upon this already successful formula with "Football Manager 23"? Here's everything we know about the next entry.
Does Football Manager 23 have a release date?
On September 9, Sega announced that "Football Manager 23" will release November 8, 2022. This shouldn't come as a surprise to fans, given that each installment has launched in November for years now. As with "Football Manager 22," this next entry will come to most platforms, although the experience will differ. The full-fledged version of the game is available for PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store.
Other options include Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Mobile, and Touch for the Switch, which all strip down the experience in the spirit of optimization and streamlining. "Football Manager 23" will mark the first time the series has released for a PlayStation console. The Mobile and Touch offerings include support on both iOS and Android devices. At sticker price, "Football Manager 23" retails at $59.99. However, should you pre-order the game through select digital retailers, you will receive both 20% off and early access.
Is there a trailer for Football Manager 23?
A brief trailer for "Football Manager 23" debuted on September 9, 2022. Though it doesn't reveal much about what is to come in terms of gameplay footage or new features, the trailer promotes the release date and commemorates the achievements players experienced in "Football Manager 22."
Across the entire player base of "Football Manager 22," Manchester City star and newly christened talisman Erling Haaland scored a whopping 30,709,037 goals in all combined saves. This nearly doubled the second closest tally of 17,684,656, which was scored by Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé. On top of that, players achieved an unbeaten season 927,013 times, and some even attempted a 2-1-4-3 formation that defies all defensive logic.
Little regarding "Football Manager 23" and how the title may build upon past series offerings is shown. However, the trailer does promise a bigger and better experience as aspiring virtual football managers attempt to ply their craft and form their own narratives.
What will the gameplay be like in Football Manager 23?
While it takes time to master, the "Football Manager" series is known for its depth and the amount of control it grants to loyalists (via PCMag). According to promotional materials, the franchise will add a few more features to make "Football Manager 23" stand out from its predecessors.
First, players will have the ability to develop a tactic purely from scratch. This typically starts with creating a formation and then applying roles to the positions. Further, virtual managers can add more fine tuning to a player in their tactic. For instance, if you want your winger to play more centrally, you can apply instructions to make sure they're occupying those half spaces in transition. Throughout this process, you will also be in charge of training sessions and keeping players in a good place mentally.
Other responsibilities to take on include player contracts, negotiating with other clubs for players, and developing young players so that they may one day become world beaters and either lead your team to glory or get flipped for a massive profit. Among the new features added is a revamped recruitment system that offers a chart where you can insert your hypothetical new signings and scouting techniques based around specific focuses. Other additions include improvements to match AI, animations, and the inclusion of UEFA competitions.