The latest Football Manager 2026 patch is out, and while it brings some much-needed improvements to performance and matchday smoothness, players say two of the game’s biggest frustrations remain untouched.
The update was mainly focused on optimization and improving the performance of the game. They did succeed at that; the game runs much better now than before. For many, the game finally feels smoother.
However, FM fans were quick to notice that major gameplay issues — like the bizarre wage-demand bug and the lack of formation visibility in match reports — haven’t been fixed.
Performance Gains Are Real, But The Core Problems Aren’t Going Away
Credit where credit is due, SI did a good job on optimizing the game in this patch. Sure, the gameplay bugs are still there, but at least the game runs much better.
The 3D transitions that previously caused sharp stutters and lag are now fixed. The game runs at a very stable framerate compared to before. Colors on match highlights still need work, but overall, the optimization fix is a noticeable win.
But the gameplay side is still as trashy as ever. The long-running wage-demand bug is still very much alive. For those unfamiliar, when you go to renegotiate a salary for a player or staff, they will ask for an absurd amount of money. In one example, a youth player earning just $2.9K per year suddenly demanded $300K per year after renegotiation. The bug continues to break squad planning, budgets, and long-term career saves.
Another missing feature players hoped to see fixed is formation visibility. Even after the patch, match reports still don’t show the opposition’s formation for each fixture, making tactical analysis more difficult than it should be. FM players have been asking for this for years, and many were disappointed to see it left out again.
On the positive side, the Data Hub received solid improvements, including clearer values when hovering and smoother navigation. Coefficient fixes are also in place for future seasons.
In short, the patch makes FM26 run better, but it doesn’t yet make it play better. So there’s still plenty of work to be done in that regard.
