The final winter update for Football Manager 2022 (FM 22) will be released in the coming days – including changes regarding the Ukraine war.
Actually, the final winter updates of the FM series focus every year on final fine-tuning of the latest transfers in international football. In 2022, things are a little different, and the manager simulation also takes the situation in Eastern Europe surrounding the Ukraine war into account.
The fundamental goal of the FM is “to be authentic and provide an entertaining escape for our players at the same time”, the official announcement states. With this in mind, decisions have been made on how FM 22 will be adapted to reality.
“VBet Liha” remains fully playable
“Where teams, leagues and federations have acted, we have also introduced changes to reflect reality,” writes FM boss Miles Jacobson. The only exception: The Ukrainian football top flight “VBet Liha” is still fully playable – in reality, this had already been interrupted on 24 February.
Furthermore, FM 22 differentiates between managerial careers that have already begun and new careers. If the career already exists, the changes are limited: Russian and Belarusian clubs only arrange friendly matches within their own nation.
In addition, matches in international competitions are played at neutral venues, and this also applies to the two national teams. And there is already the biggest difference to, say, FIFA 22: Russia and Belarus will not be removed from FM 22, they will only be restricted extensively.
Ukrainian players with EU treatment
More clearly, these restrictions apply to new careers: Russian clubs do not participate in European competitions, and the national team, in turn, does not compete in international tournaments, qualifiers or friendlies – in line with the real measures imposed
Ukrainian players, on the other hand, will be considered EU citizens for three seasons, as in reality, and will not have to worry about visas and work permits for the time being. In addition, FM 22 also wants to reflect the sanctions against club owners as best as possible – the best example of this is probably Roman Abramovich.
Gazprom should disappear at Schalke
The real changes for sponsor deals – the end of the Gazprom partnership at FC Schalke 04 should be mentioned – should also be presented. FM 22 goes into detail with adjustments such as recalibrating the probability of a player moving from or to a club in an affected league.
Last but not least, questions at press conferences should be able to lead thematically in the direction of the Ukraine war, and Russian clubs no longer claim to have reached the international competitions. Various other changes are certainly hidden under the FM 22 bonnet.
Last but not least, Jacobson “wholeheartedly wishes that the leaders of this world come to their senses and find a way to end war and the killing of our fellow man”. The final winter update should be available for all platforms and formats in the coming days.
