After its debut last year, there is also a console edition of Football Manager 2024. What the differences are to the PC version and whether beginners should use it
Heavy, heavy, Football Manager. Anyone playing Sports Interactive’s soccer simulation for the first time will notice: It’s not easy. Completely replace a squad, simply train the striker’s goal-scoring ability to the maximum and the trophy cabinet will fill up? That’s hardly going to work.
To be successful, there are many things to consider. A balanced team structure, good morale and a squad in which the attributes of the players are tailored to their respective roles. Logically, there are regular challenges in this regard throughout the season. It is therefore not a game that you can relax to after work and make rapid progress. One of the main reasons for this is the micromanagement of the PC version.
Significantly less micromanagement
Many conversations, press conferences, meetings, reports or decisions that need to be carefully considered. Although the “FM24 Console” does not dispense with this completely, micromanagement is significantly reduced. However, this does not only have advantages.
One example: In the PC version, players can be praised or criticized after a week of training. The right words can be used to influence morale. In the console version, there is no effort involved, but there is also the opportunity to boost morale. This is significant in that the team structure in FM24 Console is no longer just under the hood – it is a relevant game factor.
The team structure has changed significantly
The feature was introduced for the first time in the new installment of the series, but has been changed over long stretches compared to the PC version. Specifically, the aim is to select three principles. In order for these to have the desired effect on and off the pitch, you need to gain the acceptance of the players. This in turn is influenced by your decisions
A small approximation of the PC version can be found in the personalities. As in real life, a player’s character plays a major role in transfer planning – but it’s not quite as complicated in the console edition. A player can have one of four mindsets. Whether you try to make the squad homogeneous or diverse in this respect makes little difference.
If you take the former route, you will unlock a number of bonuses – including improved performance in training. However, a large variety in the team can also be a good strategy for building a successful team
Less staff, playable leagues and no modding
The number of employees is also slimmed down compared to the computer counterpart. On the console, you can only hire an assistant coach; there are no positions such as sports scientists. There is also a limit to the number of playable leagues – you can choose from a total of ten. If you want to edit the list of leagues during a career, you can of course do so.
A significant loss is the lack of modding. This is not possible on the console – player pictures, skins, logos and the like cannot be edited
Conclusion
Whether console or PC version: Both versions of Football Manager 2024 have depth. You should always bring patience, time and concentration to the game from Sports Interactive. However, the console edition is a good introduction to the world of FM, especially for beginners. The simulation for Xbox and PlayStation is limited to the essentials – there is no sensory overload with tutorials, emails and decisions right at the start. Despite this, the trainer/manager simulation retains its depth, which makes this series realistic and characteristic, if not simple.