There will be a console edition of Football Manager 2024 this year as well. In this should do a lot. We put together what features you can expect.
Despite the delayed release of Football Manager on PlayStation 5, the version “exceeded expectations” of the developer, as Miles Jacobson wrote in the developer blog. The expansion to next-gen consoles gave Sports Interactive three million more players. Accordingly, the series will logically continue on Xbox One as well as Series X/S and PlayStation 5.
Long-awaited community wish also fulfilled on console
While the PC version of Football Manager received many features long requested by the community, the console edition will also receive some of them. Starting with the perennial topic of standard situations. So there is in the future also on the Xbox and PlayStation the possibility to “make the difference at both ends of the pitch”, as it says in the Deep Dive of the developer.
The new standard FM24 editor, which has been “adapted for use in FM24 Console”, is supposed to take care of this. The co-trainer asks you four key questions in which you determine “your central defense and attack preferences”. Based on the answers, your assistant will eventually generate suitable routines for each scenario. What’s more, your staff will automatically assign instructions for each role category – so this would no longer need to be done manually.
More action on the court?
The “majority of the improvements in the Match Engine in the classic desktop version” should also be included in the console edition. This includes animation improvements for movement without the ball and optimized player position changes. In addition, there will also be the role of the inverse full-back on PlayStation and Xbox, “who acts as an inside defender in his own possession and as a traditional outside defender in the opponent’s possession.”
In addition, the developer promises that the graphics have also “taken a big step forward”. Matches are said to appear “even more realistic and immersive” thanks to improvements in ball physics and lighting.
More control in training
But before it comes to points on the pitch, training is on the agenda. In the “FM24 Console”, the virtual coach should have more control over how he rehearses the team. In the future, the focus of the team’s training can be selected for the following week. In addition, you will get a better overview of the daily performance of the protégés through messages.
During the season, you will be able to visualize the units “that your team has completed during the past few weeks”. Based on that, you can decide which areas to focus on next. In addition, the attack, defense and goalkeeper training sessions will make their debut in the console version. This refers to training in groups. These would be set automatically by the staff, but you can move the players around.
Team structure no longer only under the hood
An important ingredient for success, however, is not only training, but also an intact team structure. This was more or less under the hood in “FM23 Console”. That means: It was not explicitly listed whether decisions around playing time or even transfers had an impact on it. In the future, however, the team structure will be a bigger issue on the console as well.
For this, the developer doesn’t want to copy the system known from the PC version, but introduce a new one. At the beginning, you have to determine “what kind of boss you want to be”. A total of ten principles are presented to you, three of which you have to choose. Thanks to this foundation, players should know what values you represent and what you expect from them on a daily basis. It also results in “a better understanding of your players’ personalities and how they react to your decision-making and approach.”
For all of this to have the desired effect on and off the field, however, you must first earn the acceptance of your players. This is a completely new concept. The more acceptance you get, the more the players believe in your vision and leadership. In total, there are four different levels: “On the same wavelength, enthusiastic, convinced, and devoted.” Depending on how you deal with the protégé, this can change, of course.
As known from the PC version, you should consider reactions or actions thoroughly. Because also other members of the team can tangent this, which for example with the concerning solidarize.
Give reasons for demands to the board – crossplay extended
You urgently need more transfer budget or want to push the expansion of the stadium? As usual, you can ask the board for a small injection of funds. In order to maximize the chances of success, you will be able to give a reason in “FM-Console” and give certain projects a higher priority.
Last but not least, crossplay will be expanded. While it was previously only possible to compete against people on the same platform, PS5 players can now meet Xbox players. Crossplay will also be available for all three online game modes. FM24 Console” will be released on November 6 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
