Football Manager 2021
A football management sim with revamped matchday and recruitment systems.
Sports Interactive and Sega released Football Manager 2021, the eighteenth main game in the series, on 24 November 2020 for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. A trimmed-down version, Football Manager 2021 Touch, arrived on 1 December for those platforms and on 15 December for Nintendo Switch. The Xbox Edition, also out 1 December for Xbox One, Series X/S, and Windows 10 via the Microsoft Store, marked the franchise’s first appearance on an Xbox console 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 additional interaction options between the manager, players, and media. Presentation elements before, during, and after matches have been added, and the match engine AI has been overhauled. Expected goals (xG) makes its series debut as part of a data analysis suite built in partnership with SciSports. Trophy presentations have been revamped, and managers can take more control of club recruitment through a new recruitment meeting. The game includes 117 leagues from 52 nations across five continents, with coverage heavily slanted toward European teams. 29 leagues across 14 countries are fully licensed, while Juventus appears as Zebre and the Germany national team is unlicensed.
Xbox edition
Football Manager 2021 Xbox Edition, modelled on Football Manager Touch, returned the series to Xbox consoles for the first time since 2007. Its user interface is designed for Xbox controllers and supports Microsoft's Smart Delivery and Play Anywhere 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. The game released on 1 December 2020.
Mobile
Argentina, Canada, and Mexico were added as playable nations in Football Manager 2021 Mobile, raising the total to 24. For the first time, tactical templates let you mimic real-world playing styles, and you can design your own set-piece routines. The Dynamics module now shows social groups, player bonds, and squad hierarchy, while player communication has been overhauled. You can also set up feeder club partnerships and organize pre-season friendlies. The game launched on 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 having mighty approval, recommended by 92% of critics. PC Gamer praised its engaging depth, calling it an easy excuse to relapse. Eurogamer's Tapsell noted that new tricks headline the improvements, but the best move is breathing new life into existing brilliance. PCGamesN highlighted the unique pride of accomplishment from inspiring a team. GamesRadar+ gave five stars out of five, praising accessibility and UI improvements while criticizing repetitive interviews and press conferences.
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