Sports Interactive has released the latest patch for Football Manager 26, Update 26.1.2, on January 19 via Steam, Microsoft Store and Epic Store. The update is the first of 2026 following a holiday break, but players have criticised it as evidence that developers have shifted focus to the next instalment.
The patch primarily addresses the controversial User Interface, with the most notable change being a redesigned 'Stages' screen. This now appears as a full-screen tile displaying more information, such as league tables or cup knockout rounds. The update also includes fixes for 'various crash and stability' issues and tweaks to editor tools.
However, many fans remain unimpressed. One Reddit user commented: 'They are definitely starting to sunset this game... all eyes for SI are on FM27.' Another reported: 'I've had two crashes at the end of matches since I installed this.' A third described the game as 'still an absolute mess in terms of information organisation.'
Not all feedback was negative. One player called it a 'fantastic update if everything works as intended,' while another said the UI changes were 'much needed and would be massive if executed correctly.' The mixed reception highlights ongoing dissatisfaction with FM26, which has faced heavy criticism since its release.
