Football Manager 2021
Eighteenth installment in the Football Manager series.
Football Manager 2021 is a football management simulation video game, the eighteenth installment in the Football Manager series developed by Sports Interactive and published by Sega. It was released worldwide on 24 November 2020 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The game marked the series' return to Xbox platforms for the first time since 2007.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Sports Interactive
- Publisher
- Sega
- Series
- Football Manager
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X/S
- Nintendo Switch
- Genre
- Sports management
- Modes
- Single player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Features
The headline features of Football Manager 2021 cover the interaction system, matchday experience, and recruitment module. New communication methods include gestures, and there are fresh interaction options between the manager, players, and media. Presentation elements before, during, and after matches have been updated, and the match engine AI has been overhauled. Expected goals (xG) makes its series debut, built by Sports Interactive in partnership with SciSports as part of a wider data analysis suite. Trophy presentations have been revamped, and managers can take more control of recruitment strategy through a new recruitment meeting. The game includes 117 leagues from 52 nations across five continents, with 29 leagues in 14 countries fully licensed. Italy's Serie A has all clubs licensed except Juventus, which appears as Zebre. The Germany national team is not licensed.
Xbox edition
Football Manager 2021 Xbox edition, modelled on Football Manager Touch, was released on 1 December 2020. Its user interface is designed for Xbox controllers, and it supports Microsoft's Smart Delivery and Play Anywhere technology for cross-play across Xbox One, Xbox One X/S, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows 10. On Xbox Series X/S, matches display in native 4K, and up to 10 nations can be loaded simultaneously.
Mobile
Football Manager 2021 Mobile added Argentina, Canada, and Mexico as playable nations, increasing the total to 24. For the first time, tactical templates mimic popular football styles, and managers can create custom set-piece routines. The Dynamics module now shows social groups, player relationships, and squad hierarchy, while player communication has been overhauled. Additional features include arranging pre-season friendlies and setting up feeder club links. The game launched for iOS and Android on 24 November 2020.
Reception
Football Manager 2021 received generally favorable reviews on Metacritic, while the Touch version for Switch received mixed or average reviews. OpenCritic assessed the game as receiving mighty approval, recommended by 92% of critics. PC Gamer praised its engaging depth, noting that the game provides an easy excuse to relapse. Eurogamer's Tapsell praised improvements over prior entries, stating that new tricks make headlines but the best move is breathing new life into existing brilliance. PCGamesN highlighted the game's uniqueness in imparting a particular pride of accomplishment. GamesRadar+ gave the game five stars out of five, praising accessibility and user interface improvements while criticizing interviews and press conferences as repetitive.
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