What Football Manager is going to look like in 10 years time

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Being able to control the game with your mind

Advanced AI built into the game

Football Manager uses Unreal Engine 6 for the match engine

Being able to load all leagues without it completely breaking your laptop

Football Manager is in a bit of a rough patch, and players’ confidence in the game is understandably low. However, this may just be a momentary blip. In 10 years, we could all look back on this time and laugh. This got me thinking: what could the game look like in a decade? What technological advancements might transform Football Manager and the way we play it?

In the 1950s, they predicted we’d be driving flying cars by now, so these forecasts might seem silly in hindsight. But who doesn’t love a bold prediction? So strap in as we journey to the year 2034.

Playing games with your mind. Image Credit Twitter/X/Perri Kayal

Being able to control the game with your mind

This is already happening in games far more complex than Football Manager. Just yesterday, I saw someone on Twitter (I’ll never call it X) playing Monster Hunter Wild with their mind. I also saw someone playing Elden Ring with their mind.

It’s not a huge leap to imagine playing Football Manager without pressing a single button. The technology exists; it’s just a matter of making these devices accessible and affordable for the average person. There’s a bit of nostalgia here, though—tapping the spacebar to advance the game has become iconic. If we only have to think about continuing to the next game day, it will mark the end of an era.

Advanced AI built into the game

AI chatbots are a relatively recent phenomenon. ChatGPT only launched in 2022, and few expected it to become a viral sensation. But in just two years, AI has exploded in popularity and capability. It can organise your calendar, write your essays, and even give you therapy and advice. Imagine how advanced it’ll be in 10 years.

ChatGPT on Football Manager. Captured by VideoGamer.com

Integrated AI could revolutionize Football Manager, making every interaction more immersive. Player chats could feel unique and realistic, press conferences could break away from repetitive questions, and the social media feed might actually be engaging. The possibilities are endless, and this could make each save feel truly unique.

Modders are already using AI to generate regen faces. Over the past decade, regen faces have been a disaster in Football Manager, so if AI can fix it, that’s a win.

The graphics in Bodycam. Image credit Reissad Studio

Football Manager uses Unreal Engine 6 for the match engine

This is more of a fantasy than a real expectation, but imagine if Football Manager’s graphics rivaled games built with Unreal Engine 5. For instance, Bodycam is an ultra-realistic multiplayer game built on this engine, and it looks astonishingly real. Imagine watching your fantasy team play with graphics that look like real life, where your players don’t resemble characters from The Polar Express.

Unreal Engine versions are released roughly every four years, so by 2034 we might be looking at Unreal Engine 7. But I’m realistic—Football Manager will probably always be a little behind on this front. Even if the graphics were spectacular, I’d probably still stick to the classic 2D mode.

Football Manager loads of countries loaded. Image credit Reddit

Being able to load all leagues without it completely breaking your laptop

By 2034, surely our laptops will be able to handle all the leagues without slowing to a crawl. Imagine loading every country’s leagues and having the game run smoothly, without taking an entire year to get through one season. This could open up endless possibilities for new save styles.

This isn’t unrealistic either. Since I started playing, the game’s performance has significantly improved. Saving used to take over a minute; now, it’s down to about 10 seconds. A few years ago, downloading the game took hours—technology is always advancing.

What do you think the game is going to look like in 10 years? Let me know in the comments!

About the Author

William is the admin of Out of Context Football Manager, an X account that focuses on FM news. He's worked for LADbible Group and is VG's resident FM expert.