Sega and Sports Interactive’s annual football management simulation franchise Football Manager might not be the widespread mainstream success that something like FIFA is, but it enjoys a strong, dedicated fanbase every year, one which sticks around for many, many months (and usually ends up migrating to the next annual installment without fail).

Football Manager 2019, though, has crossed a notable sales landmark. Miles Jacobson, director of the series and Sports Interactive boss, recently shared on Twitter that the sim title has crossed two million units in worldwide sales across all its versions (Football Manager, Football Manager Touch, and Football Manager Mobile), and in doing so, it has become their first annual release to do so.

Football Manager 2019 is currently available on PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android (across various versions). In our review of the game, we called it “the best this series has been in years, if not ever.” Read our full review through here.

https://twitter.com/milesSI/status/1153320225447788544

The Switch is rapidly becoming a hot bed for the kinds of games that are traditionally associated only with PC gaming. We just had the launch of Diablo 3: Eternal Edition and Civilization 6 on the system earlier this week; now, Football Manager 2019 Touch, a simplified take on the popular soccer simulation series, is available on Nintendo Switch too.

As far as the release goes, it was a bit sudden. We did get Football Manager 2018 Touch on the Switch last year, to be fair, and we had been told that the Switch would get 2019 Touch too, but we didn’t actually have any warning that that would be happening today. Though to be fair, we were told it would launch on Switch in November, and at this point, it’s not like there’s many days in November left. Still, I have to imagine fans of the series are happy.

The one territory in the world where the game is not available on Switch yet is North America, which means players in USA, Canada, and Mexico must wait until December 6 to be able to play it. That’s not too far off, though. Football Manager 2019 proper is also available on PC and Mac. If you’re interested in learning more about that game, make sure to check out our review for it.

The biggest of these changes has been made to training. While in earlier iterations, training was something that was at best an afterthought for all players, in Football Manager 2019, it has grown in importance massively. Much of that is down to the fact that the game offers you much, much more control over the proceedings than it ever has. It moves away from the broad categories for training in earlier games, which you would glance at and choose from at the beginning of pre-season and then be more than happy to ignore for the following in-game months. Now, there’s a level of micromanagement involved that feels authentic to and consistent with the rest of the experience. You essentially decide what kind of training you want your players to be involved in for every single session, every single day, and the range of options the game provides you with for this purpose is massive, including but not limited to basics such as possession, physical, and match tactics, and more specific regimens for ball retention, chance conversion, attacking down the wings, retaining the ball, and many, many more.

"With Football Manager 2019, Sports Interactive hits two bird with one stone, by introducing some new changes that are more significant than anything we’ve seen in the series in years, which also greatly improve upon what have been some of the its weakest points in the past."

It’s rewarding to engage with the overhauled training system as well. With the greater degree of control you have over deciding how your team prepares for a match, you can look at an upcoming fixture and train your team exactly in the way that you wish to play for that specific match. Whether it’s a game coming up against a European heavyweight that is known for playing a fast, pressing game, or one in your local cup competition against a lower division side whose defence has a reputation for leaking goals, Football Manager 2019 gives you the tools to decide exactly how you want your team to play. Of course, how well your players respond to that training is, as always, dependant on a number of factors, so it’s not always a sure shot success, and that, too, is something that you always need to keep in mind. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, given just how deep it goes into the specifics, but once you get the hang of it, the loop of setting your training before matches, managing your players and what sort of training they respond to, and reaping the rewards (or the failures, as the case may be), becomes as addictive as anything this series has ever done.

Of course, if you don’t want to get into the minutiae, you can always just delegate all tasks related to training to members of your coaching staff- and that never feels like an option that is less viable. In such a scenario, with the training wheels on, so to speak, you still know what you’re getting into, which is the same Football Manager experience you get every year, and I imagine this will also be an attractive option for newcomers who might not want to be thrown into the deep end of the pool right off the bat. But for those who’re looking for even more tools from Football Manager to empower them with absolute control over the fate of their club, both in the larger scheme of things as well as the small, the new and improved training can make a world of difference.

The other major pillar of change that Football Manager 2019 stands on revolves around tactics. Arguably much less impactful and not nearly as extensive as the new and improved training, the changes Football Manager 2019 makes to tactics are still immediately apparent, and an obvious improvement over what’s come before. By now dividing its tactics into three categories – for when you are in possession, for when you don’t have the ball, and for when you’re transitioning between defence and attack – Football Manager 2019 lets you pick and choose exactly how you wish for your team to play in different situations. Making smart use of each of these, you can almost create combos of sorts that, if executed properly, can yield incredibly satisfying results. Asking your team to press higher upon losing possession while maintaining width, then quickly moving the ball through the flanks immediately upon getting the ball back, and then trying to score off an early cross is now entirely possible.

"Whether it’s a game coming up against a European heavyweight that is known for playing a fast, pressing game, or one in your local cup competition against a lower division side whose defence has a reputation for leaking goals, Football Manager 2019 gives you the tools to decide exactly how you want your team to play."

The central thing here is, just as it is with training, a greater degree of control. Tactics in previous Football Manager games tended to be a bit vague at times, and often you had to resort to picking the option that was closest to what you had in mind, which may or may not have yielded the results you were hoping for. In Football Manager 2019, tactics feel precise, and enable you to choose a style of play that, with the right amount of tinkering, can be perfect for the kind of squad you have, and for the kind of team you’re hoping to build. There are also preset tactics for you to choose from and build off of, which range from the generic variety of attacking, counter-attacking, and the like, or something that specifically tries to mimic iconic styles of renowned managers like Klopp or Guardiola. Of course, it’s not enough to just choose one of these and call it a day – your tactics need to gel with the kind of players you have in your squad and, more importantly, need to be fluid enough to keep evolving on a match-to-match basis – but these serve as an excellent starting point if there’s a particular manager’s style of football that you wish to emulate.

Another area that has seen a marked improvement is the user interface. The UI in Football Manager games has grown increasingly cluttered as the years have gone by, and even the most devoted veterans of the series, who have endless hours of play time under their belt, would tell you that. Football Manager 2019’s UI is smarter and cleaner, and the time you have to spend going from menus to sub-menus to sub-sub-menus has been cut down significantly. There’s still a lot of menus, which is to be expected, given the very nature of the game, but navigating them is the easiest and least clunky it has been in years.

Beyond the more obvious, headlining changes, there’s still plenty that has been incrementally improved. The match engine, for instance, continues its yearly growth, with improved visuals and things like the addition of the Video Assistant Referee (or VAR) adding a greater level of detail and drama to the matches themselves. There are still some issues that persist in this area, such as frequent silly mistakes by defenders and goalkeepers, unusually frequent missed passes, strikers repeatedly missing goals from close range, and the like, so the match engine is still something that could do with plenty of further improvements. Similarly, the Dynamics system is still a bit problematic, and players still have unpredictable and random mood swings and responses to situations, while interacting with the press remains as mundane and repetitive as it has ever been. Given how much time is spent in any session of Football Manager with press interactions or within the match engine, these flaws are hopefully going to be at the top of Sports Interactive’s list of improvements for next year’s game.

"Tactics in previous Football Manager games tended to be a bit vague at times, and often you had to resort to picking the option that was closest to what you had in mind, which may or may not have yielded the results you were hoping for. In Football Manager 2019, tactics feel precise, and enable you to choose a style of play that, with the right amount of tinkering, can be perfect for the kind of squad you have, and for the kind of team you’re hoping to build."

At the end of the day, though, it’s easy to overlook, if not ignore, Football Manager 2019’s flaws, thanks to the huge improvements it has made in other areas. For the first time in years, this feels like a fresh new instalment with tangible changes and improvements rather than those made in small increments, and the fact that these changes are executed so well only makes them that much more impactful. For newcomers, the streamlined interface and the option to not have to engage with any of the deeper systems without any repercussions has to be quite encouraging, while veterans of the series will love the greater degree of control the game offers in key areas that had been in need of improvement for years. There’s still room for improvement, of course, but all said and done, Football Manager 2019 is probably the best this series has been in years, if not ever.

This game was reviewed on PC.

The charts for physical software sales in the UK for the week ending November 3 are in, courtesy of GFK Chart-Track, and after an impressive debut on top of the pile last week, Red Dead Redemption 2 has managed to perform quite well once again. Rockstar’s open world masterpiece is once again in pole position.

Games Industry reports that its sales fell 51 per cent week-on-week, meaning that it’s managed to retain an impressive amount of traction in the market. So impressive, in fact, that Red Dead Redemption 2’s second week is the most successful second week on the market for any game in 2018 (even more so that UK’s sweetheart FIFA 19).

The newly released Football Manager 2019 is a new fixture in the charts, debuting at ninth place, while LEGO Harry Potter Collection has somehow managed to re-enter charts at number eight after not even tracking at all last week. Beyond these, the other games in the top 10 are about what you’d expect them to be. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 at #2, FIFA 19 at #3, and Forza Horizon 4 at #4 have all retained their positions in the top 10 from last week.

Spider-Man has moved up one spot to fifth place, while Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has dropped down from fifth to sixth. Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy is still in the top 10, moving up from tenth position to seventh place, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe re-enters the top 10 in tenth place.

Sports Interactive’s Football Manager 2019 is now available for PC. Interestingly, its mobile versions – Football Manager 2019 Touch and Football Manager 2019 Mobile – are also available, marking a simultaneous launch for all three. Check out the launch trailer below, though keep in mind that it contains “non-gameplay footage”. There are way more stats involved.

Football Manager 2019 promises a number of improvements, both from last year’s iteration and the recent pre-release beta. A new match engine, changes to training and tactics, access to the pre-game/in-game editors, and the debut of the Bundesliga license are all included. If you happen to have a pre-release beta career, that will also carry over into the final release.

Overall, the game is garnering positive reviews on Steam (especially compared to last year’s iteration). It also has a Metascore of 87 based on 15 publications’ reviews. Though it may be early days yet for Football Manager 2019, it’s good to see Sports Interactive back in the (relatively) good graces of fans.

Déraciné

FromSoftware has been working like crazy to diversify its portfolio and Déraciné is perhaps its most off-beat title. As a faerie of sorts, the player moves around a boarding school, influencing the lives of its students. Freezing time and building personal bonds with the students are the core tenets of the game. However, it’s perhaps most intriguing because it’s a PlayStation VR title. What does the story hold and will it contain the same deep world-building that’s defined so many FromSoftware games? Déraciné arrives on November 6^th so it won’t be long before we find out.

Overkill’s The Walking Dead (PC Version)

Though the Xbox One and PS4 versions were delayed into 2019, Overkill’s The Walking Dead is still coming to PC next month. Focusing on four survivors, each with their own unique skills and backstories, the first person shooter lets you play either super-stealthy or guns blazing in scenarios teeming with zombies. Players will need to loot supplies and defend their home camp, ensuring it survives against the onslaught of the undead. Overkill’s The Walking Dead arrives for PC on November 6^th.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy

After a sudden delay, Spyro Reignited Trilogy is set to release on November 13^th for Xbox One and PS4 (no Switch or PC confirmation yet). Featuring remasters for Insomniac’s original games, namely Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage! and Spyro: Year of the Dragon, the trilogy promises gorgeous graphics paired with the same awesome platforming. If that weren’t enough, a remastered version of the soundtrack also accompanies the original with the ability to choose between the two.

Fallout 76

When Bethesda first announced Fallout 76, we were expecting any number of things. An online FPS/RPG with social elements and games-as-a-service content was not one of them. Impressions from the beta have ranged from enthusiastic to somewhat worried but we honestly won’t know how good Fallout 76 is until it releases. Will it bomb? Or should we learn to stop worrying and just love the always-online gameplay? We’ll find out on November 14^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Hitman 2

Those craving a solid stealth experience needn’t worry as Agent 47 is back in town. Hitman 2 promises a full game with six locations, different story missions, Contracts and different targets to hunt post-launch. Of course, the same challenges and variety of gameplay remain but IO Interactive is adding some intriguing new content. Ghost Mode lets you compete against another player, fighting to assassinate targets faster than them while the original Hitman’s locations and missions will be available and updated in the sequel. Releasing on November 14^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC, Hitman 2 should be yet another excellent outing with our favourite assassin.

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!

It’s Pokemon! Well, it’s sort of Pokemon. The original 151 creatures are here, battles with trainers and Gym Leaders still apply and Pokemon can be captured and trained. However, Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! take several cues from the mobile Pokemon GO series, incorporating Joy-Con controls for capturing Pokemon. You can forego motion controls altogether and sure it’s weird, but this is still a proper Pokemon game. We’ll find out how fun it is when it launches on November 16^th for Nintendo Switch.

Battlefield 5

The next iteration of Battlefield saw its own delay by roughly a month for additional polish. We’ve gotten a better look at the various War Stories contained within, the schedule for Tides of War and even how the game’s economy will work. While Firestorm won’t be available till March 2019, Battlefield 5 should still have a host of interesting mechanics to exploit like fortifications and Companies on top of the new maps and modes. It’s out on November 20^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Darksiders 3

The much-awaited sequel in the cult classic franchise is nearly upon us. Gunfire Games’ Darksiders 3 takes place in a seamlessly linked open world while returning to the hack and slash action that defined the first game. Playing as Fury, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, there will be whips, acrobatics, magic and different forms to take advantage of. How the quest to defeat the Seven Deadly Sins plays out remains to be seen but it should be a marked improvement over Darksiders 2. Darksiders 3 releases on November 27^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Tetris Effect

You’ve played Tetris, sure, but have you played Rez creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s version of Tetris? Tetris Effect arrives for PS4 and PlayStation VR on November 9^th, bringing a more musical-based rhythm to the puzzle experience. While we doubt players will still be seeing Tetris blocks falling after the game is over, Tetris Effect should provide a surreal yet visually resplendent experience for fans of the series.

Spider-Man DLC 2: Turf Wars

Turf Wars is the second chapter for The City That Never Sleeps, the DLC saga for Insomniac’s Spider-Man. While there isn’t a whole lot known at this point, it will bring new story missions, new suits (hopefully with suit powers this time) and some new enemies. Will famed villain Hammerhead make an appearance? Time will tell but for now, stay tuned for the DLC’s launch in November if you want even more Spider-Man.

Honourable mentions

Here are a few honourable mentions outside of our top ten that may be of interest.

• Underworld Ascendant
• Kursk
• Ride 3
• Artifact
• Farming Simulator 19
• The Quiet Man
• Football Manager 2019

Football Manager 2019 is going to launch for PC on November 2nd this year, following the series’ yearly schedule of releases. Those who follow the football management simulator would also know of Football Manager Touch, a second, lighter version of the game that releases alongside the main one every year for mobile devices, and offers a surprisingly full-featured and satisfactory experience.

Developers Sports Interactive have now announced, via the official Football Manager page on Twitter, that Football Manager 2019 will be launching for the Nintendo Switch in November as well, while series director Miles Jacobson has clarified in a tweet of his own (as spotted by a user over at ResetERA) that the version the Switch will be receiving will be Football Manager Touch 2019. All of this came after IGN Germany’s Twitter page accidentally went live with this IGN First announcement ahead of time.

It’s excellent news, especially for fans of the series (which includes yours truly), but not really all that surprising, if I’m being honest. Football Manager Touch 2018 was released on the eShop just a few months ago as well, and after that, its successor following suit was more or less an inevitability.

Either way, it’s nice to have a confirmation. Good on you, Sega. Will you be getting the “lite” version of Football Manager 2019 for the Nintendo Switch, or will you be sticking with the PC version- or will you possibly end up getting both? Let us know in your comments.

https://twitter.com/FootballManager/status/1032227278439243776

https://twitter.com/milesSI/status/1032228844399407104

Sega and Atlus have announced their lineup of games for Gamescom, and they’re bringing a healthy mix of some of the most anticipated upcoming games to the event. These games cover just about every platform on the market, and the PS Vita.

Games Sega and Atlus are bringing to the event include Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, Valkyria Chronicles 4, Team Sonic Racing, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise, and Football Manager 2019. As you may have realized, Persona Q2, which was just announced over the weekend, is not on this list- that has to do with it not actually having had a localized release for the west announced yet. Assuming it is being localized (and it will be, since it’s Persona), we’re going to have to wait a fair bit before we can presumably see Atlus bring it to one of these events.

Gamescom will be held from August 21 to August 25.

Sports Interactive has announced a release date for Football Manager 2019, the next chapter in the perennial sports management series. It’s out on November 2^nd for PC players and will feature “new and improved features” along with the German DFL Bundesliga license in a series first. Check out the announcement trailer, which promises more realism than before.

Among some of the things that fans can look forward to is the overhauled engine, complete with the Dynamics System, and a reworked Medical Centre. That’s not including the 26 licensed league competitions, individual club licenses, over 500,000 players and staff to scout, 50 of the “biggest” footballing countries and much more.

The current website states more information will be revealed in late September, but in the meantime, you can pre-order the game for a 10 percent discount. There will also be a beta prior to launch, accessible to those pre-ordering via approved retailers. It will be available on October 19^th. Head on over to Steam to learn more.