Sports Interactive has revealed a major overhaul to Football Manager 27's user interface and navigation, introducing fewer clicks, redesigned menus, adaptive layouts, and significantly more customization options. The changes are intended to make key information and managerial decisions more accessible, while giving players greater control over how the game is presented on screen.
⬆️FM27 Redesigns Navigation Around the Manager's Responsibilities
FM27 moves navigation entirely to the top-of-screen menus, with the primary and secondary menus giving access to the game's main sections and the wider football world. The core sections have also been reorganized around the main responsibilities of a football manager. Squad, Tactics, Recruitment, Training, and Club now take players directly to the relevant areas instead of requiring additional navigation. Tiles will still display information, but they will no longer be needed to navigate between screens. Sports Interactive has also converted more pop-ups into full-screen views, with the next available navigation option remaining visible rather than requiring players to repeatedly close windows.
📄Messages Now Include More Information
The messaging system is receiving one of the more practical changes. Information will now be presented directly within messages instead of requiring players to open separate tiles. Messages will also be colour-coded to make different types of information easier to identify. Scout reports, for example, can now appear directly inside the relevant message.
Transfer-related messages have received a similar treatment. When multiple clubs make offers or show interest in a player's services, managers will be able to review the relevant information and take action directly from the message. Major sections of the game will also feature a control panel at the top of the screen, bringing common actions such as holding team meetings, adjusting budgets, reviewing staff advice, and delegating responsibilities into one place.
💻The Interface Will Adapt to Different Screens
Sports Interactive has reworked the underlying UI logic so FM27 can adapt to different screen sizes and resolutions. The layout will adjust whether the game is being played on a laptop or a 4K monitor. Tables and lists are a particular focus because they are central to the Football Manager experience. The new system can scale these elements dynamically, allowing more information to fit on screen without unnecessary scrolling while still working with customizable views. Players will also be able to choose between three scanning modes in the preferences menu:
- A default information level.
- A mode that displays more information on screen.
- A mode with larger UI elements.
🕹️More Control Over the Interface
FM27 will give players additional ways to customize individual screens. Certain tiles in the Portal and other areas can be replaced with different tiles of the same size, allowing managers to prioritize the information they consider most useful. The bookmark bar has also been redesigned. Bookmarks now include text descriptions and can be dragged into any order, making it easier to organize frequently used destinations for different stages of a season. Keyboard shortcuts can be edited from the preferences menu as well. Players can also choose where they land when selecting an option from the primary navigation bar. For example, Squad or Recruitment can be configured to open on a specific screen rather than the default overview.
More customization options will be covered in a future deep dive, while the next presentation will focus on new, improved, and returning elements of the wider football world.