Do you play Football Manager on the sofa, controller in hand? Then there is good news. Sports Interactive has shown what FM27 Console brings, the Xbox and PlayStation 5 version that launches on 10 November. There is redesigned recruitment, Match Preparation on console for the first time and a screen that adapts to how far you sit from the TV. Two things many players missed are also coming back: heat maps and cup draws.
Where and when FM27 Console launches
FM27 Console arrives on 10 November on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox handheld devices and PlayStation 5. On the other hand, PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can also play it on PC, through the Microsoft Store or the Xbox app. SI says this version is built both for newcomers and for players coming from FM24 or FM26 on console.
However, the article says nothing about price, editions or moving saves between PC and console. There is no mention of Nintendo Switch either.
Recruitment with more purpose
First, SI has redesigned three screens: the player database, transfer and contract negotiations, and Recruitment Focuses. So the key information stands out more, and navigation is built around the controller.
Recruitment Focuses in FM27 Console (Image: Sports Interactive)
There is also a new search, «find similar players to…». For example, it helps you replace a player who is leaving or look for targets with the same qualities. Your backroom staff also give live advice during negotiations, to help you get the bid right.
Match Preparation comes to console
Match Preparation makes its console debut. Before each match, an inbox message suggests how to prepare for the next opponent. Then you can build up to three sessions: In Possession, Out of Possession and Set Pieces.
The Match Preparation message, with the three sessions (Image: Sports Interactive)
For example, SI mentions an Out of Possession session to help your team soak up pressure and hit on the counter. In other words, preparing for each opponent is no longer a PC-only thing.
Sofa or desk
This may be the most practical change. In Preferences, the Information Display option now has a scale. So you pick «Larger» if you play on the sofa, far from the TV, or «Smaller» if you sit at a desk close to the screen and want to see more at once.
Button Mapping is also back, with more options. You can swap navigation and scrolling between the left and right sticks, and customise the action buttons. Finally, the top navigation bar now matches FM27 on PC, and secondary navigation gets you to key areas faster. SI also promises lower input latency and better performance across the interface.
Button Mapping in Preferences (Image: Sports Interactive)
Match day, Shuffle Draft and Tactical Tweaks
On the pitch, the match engine has a smoother flow, and match days get more atmosphere and variety. According to SI, you can see this in Shuffle Draft too, the new multiplayer mode that is on console from day one. You can play it online or offline, against friends or the AI.
Tactical Tweaks also arrive, working alongside Shouts. While tweaks give players concrete tactical instructions, Shouts are there to stir the team emotionally.
There is also a first for South-East Asian players: Indonesian becomes a playable language on console for the first time. That is no accident, as Indonesia won the first Football Manager World Cup.
The returning favourites: heat maps and cup draws
Two features are back on console. First, Pass and Heat Maps, so you can study your team’s shape after the match. Then Cup Draws, which you can speed up or slow down to add suspense.
Cup Draws return in FM27 Console (Image: Sports Interactive)
What comes next
FM27 Console launches on 10 November, the same day as the full PC version. Meanwhile, SI has already said its next article is about FM27 Touch. For everything else, see our round-up of what is new in FM27.
Our view
This version looks like it was made by listening to console players. The screen scale and the new Button Mapping fix old complaints from people who sit far from the TV. On the other hand, Match Preparation and the similar players search bring console closer to PC. However, important answers are missing, such as the price and whether saves can move between platforms. Even so, the return of cup draws and heat maps shows SI is paying attention to the details.
Sources
- FM27 Console: New Features and Returning Favourites (footballmanager.com)
