Sports Interactive has opened up playtesting for Football Manager 27 to a wider community of players than ever before, aiming to avoid a repeat of the troubled launch of FM26. The studio announced its most ambitious playtesting programme yet, following one of the most turbulent launches in Football Manager history.
FM26's rough arrival
FM26 was released after the first gap year in Football Manager history, but it was beset by bugs and technical issues that forced the development team to push out fixes on an almost weekly basis. Now that FM26 is in a stable state, Sports Interactive is determined not to repeat those mistakes.
New playtesting programme
"We understand the need to ensure feedback is heard ahead of the next FM, in sufficient time to be reviewed by internal teams," a spokesperson for the studio said. "So, we are bringing our playtesting experience into a new era, partnering with FirstLook, allowing you to register your interest to play early builds through the final stages of development."
The studio was unambiguous about the lessons learned from FM26's rollout. "Learning from previous programs and user feedback, for FM27 we are opening our playtesting opportunities to a wider group, allowing more of you to help us shape the development of the game, starting in the coming weeks," the spokesperson added.
Two testing tracks
Playtesting will operate on two tracks. The first is an expanded online programme run through FirstLook, where fans can register their interest and join a waitlist. The second involves in-studio sessions with a selected group of community members who have historically provided constructive feedback.
"Alongside this online testing, we're conducting in-studio playtesting, collaborating with players who have consistently provided useful feedback on FM," the spokesperson confirmed. "Selected members of the community are being contacted by the SI Community Team, giving us a broad range of feedback in different environments to help inform the studio's plans."
Those who secure a place will gain access to exclusive testing spaces on the Sports Interactive forums and Discord channel, and will interact directly with both the Community and Development Teams. FM27 is expected to launch in late autumn, in keeping with the series' traditional release window.
How to sign up
Visit FirstLook's dedicated FM27 portal to register your interest and join the waitlist. During sign-up, you will be asked about your FM experience; Sports Interactive encourages applicants to "answer honestly" as they seek a diverse range of players. Registering does not guarantee a place; all applications will be reviewed by the studio. Successful applicants will receive access to exclusive spaces on the forums and Discord, and are expected to play as much as possible, complete surveys, and report any bugs. They will also have the opportunity to engage with fellow participants and the Sports Interactive Community and Development Teams.
