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SI have announced that Football Manager Mobile will now be exclusive to Netflix. If you didn't realise that Netflix has a gaming section, they do.
So how will it work and why has this post been labelled “controversial”?
Well, it's going to be FREE on Netflix. You're not going to have to pay to purchase the game.
BUT if you don't have a Netflix subscription then the only way you can play Football Manager on the your mobile is to sign up for their cheapest subscription at £4.99 a month meaning you'll be forking out £60 a year, this is a 500% increase on last years price of £9.99.
This will mean more people get to play FM since Netflix has 17 million subscribers in the UK and 240 million worldwide. But it's a real kick in the teeth for anyone who was playing the game and doesn't have a Netflix subscription.
The game has between 100k and 500k installs on the play store which is nothing in the grand world of apps.
There have long been rumours that SI were about to move Football Manager to a subscription system so perhaps they're just testing the waters with mobile first.
What do you think the reasons are?
- Just a cash grab from SI. Netflix will be paying them more than they'd make through sales.
- Anti piracy measure, now SI don't have to worry about piracy because Netflix does.
- It's to get more people to play to increase the overall userbase for both Mobile and Desktop.
- They're testing the waters on a £60 a year subscription for desktop FM.
Comments
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Rehaell
It's 1.
And to be honest, I think a subscription model makes sense instead of buying it every year, especially for casual players.
Gareth39
60 a year is a f**king joke, I've bought this game since it was championship manager.. im not interested in playing online never do so why should I pay a subscription when I'd rather buy the game and play solo…not everyone wants to connect with others when playing a GAME its a time killer thats it… a good one but 60 a yearly subscription you can piss off ill stop buying playing and stick to educating myself more in my spare time 🤦🏽♂️ change isn't always progressive!!
John45
It's 1 all the way, however I do not think it will work out well, because most people who use Netflix is to watch movies and some games here and there, but I do not think anyone is going to pay Netflix just to play FM and it is a kick in the teeth for those who previously only had to pay a fraction of what Netflix cost.
I think it would have been fine as something extra, but by making it exclusive SI made the wrong decision, no doubt motivated by $$$ paid out by Netflix.
Update: SI made statements saying FM Mobile was not meeting sales expectations and they were forced to seek alternatives to keep the mobile version of the game, one of them was Netflix. So I will have to change my opinion on this, SI was not happy either but they were forced to do so. I am still unsure if this will help them keep the mobile version alive or not, but I do not think many will be happy needing to pay much more for the same game, granted you get more than just FM Mobile with Netflix subscription, however if you are only paying to play FM Mobile it seems very expensive to do so, best to then just buy the standalone game.
sniperfox
I'm interested why you think this will change how the game (on the mobile) is played.
By the looks of it they are literally just changing how the game is distributed
Footygamer
Yeah I think @Gareth39 is misunderstanding and thinking you have to be online. Pretty sure you'll still be able to play offline while underground or whatever.
Footygamer
Stuck up a poll:
Chasden
Are people reading this correctly? The article is about FM MOBILE. MOBILE. Not the regular PC game.
And you're not literally paying 60 pounds a year for the game. You're paying 60 pounds a year for Netflix. You get more than just a game with that subscription. That's extremely misleading and sensational, and you know it.
If you don't want Netflix, you can buy the regular version of FM, which should still be a one time purchase for less than 60 pounds.
I can definitely see SI eventually trying to move everybody to a subscription, seeing as every other company is successfully getting away with it. FM is already a subscription if you're buying it every year, so what's the difference if they just divide the price by 12 and make you pay every month? (Assuming they actually divide it by 12, which I wouldn't hold my breath on)
All that said, I'm still quite happy with FM 22 (and FM 17 before that), so I'll wait to see what is actually changing before deciding if I want to upgrade again.
Gareth39
Your right I did read it wrong my bad… but I still don't like this idea of paying monthly, aslong as the option is there to buy the game outright then thats fair game
Scott Ruthven
Guess they need the money to pay for that new Unity engine now…
Anglichanin
Let’s face it- per hour, it’s the best value entertainment we buy. I paid a FIVER for FM Mobile 23 and per hour played, it’s pennies.
However, 5 to 60 is too big a leap. I hope I’ll be able to not subscribe to Netflix and pay much less than 60 for the game each year.
I decided not to play FM Touch (after trying the free demo) because of the subscription model but if I could only play Football Manager on subscription then that might be enough for me to finally kick the habit.
Footygamer
FM Mobile isn't moving to Unity as far as I know, at least not initially
Biffy
This is my opinion folks, and not posted to begin a fight ,or generate abuse.
Ive been playing this game since 1993 when it was a half season demo of Championship Manager. I loved the simplicity of it.
However, I get all things evolve, and improve. The two things don't necessarily go hand in hand.
The tie in with Netflix is ominous. its a precursor of the things to come. I don't enjoy the mobile version, never have if i'm honest, and truly believe that this hike is to help fund the money spent on the new engine.
However, if SI gave up on the idea of in game TV/Matchplay graphics, they wouldn't need a new engine. It's only my opinion, but i feel the graphics are truly shocking, bordering on amateurish… if i wanted a management game with graphics i'd play either X Box or PS.
I'd much rather i could disable the TV graphics settings on new game install. not after i've loaded the game. But, it aint going to happen, so here we are, steps away from a subscription to pay for the full game version if the tie in with Netflix works.
If there was another game out there that did what the original CM and early SI games did, without graphics then i'll be off like a shot. If they introduce a paid subscription for the full game, then i'll stick with the versions I already have.. including the graphics.
Leeds1919
i agree, the simplicity of the original Domark game was excellent, me and my mates spent hours and days with imaginary players, we still talk to this day about how one of us wasted a whole transfer budget on a random norwegian striker call Arild Stavrum!!
if you could play the game as is in 2023 with no graphics, just commentary that would be excellent
Biffy
Couldn't agree more, I got such a buzz from picking the team, the squad, the transfers… the layout was like the old BBC Grandstand results table, it was awesome.
Today's cartoon like graphics demand so much CPU resources, even though i'll never use them, I've grown to resent the game because of it. Thank god for the in-game editors to make it more interesting.
But whether the monthly subs are a money grab, or to pay for the new engine, i'm not interested in it. 30 years of buying the new version of the game, year in, year out - looking doubtful to continue much beyond next year by the sound of it.
The end of an era, which saddens me more than i'd care to admit.
Leeds1919
Have you tried the free version of cm01/02?
it’s really good, has upto date data / squads etc, but with much simpler gameplay
Biffy
Oh no, really… Where would i find that? It has upto date squads and details? Im liking the sounds of this… any editors?
Leeds1919
https://champman0102.net/index.php
there are loads of add ons in the forum
TopToffee
Out of curiosity, why didn't you include an option of “continuing to make FMM as a standalone product is no longer financially viable” as this is probably the actual answer.
Footygamer
They hadn't said that when I made it.
It's hard to remember my thinking at the time so I can't give an accurate answer. I think probably “we make more money from netflix” seemed equivealant to “we will stop making it all together unless we make more money"
But you're right they are distinct enough to have been worth making two options.
Leeds1919
my current leeds save, squads updated to end of window
Maxwell Deutsch
I joined just to comment my frustration. I’ve been watching FM YouTube for a few years and I played the game for first time in the form of Apple Arcade’s FM Touch. I found out today that my only option this year will be FM mobile through NetflIx.
I suppose I’m detailing the money complaints with my question, but I was wondering if mobile is a much less complete version of FM that I should just add to my YouTube watching instead of downloading the new version. It gets worse in that FM23 will probably be pulled from Apple Arcade once the new version is live.
I’ve rambled enough. Thanks for any insight you can give on how comparable touch is to mobile.
Leeds1919
Mobile and touch are very watered down versions of the PC game for obvious reasons
just buy the game it’s only 40 quid