Football Manager 26 was a mess at launch, and still is to a very good extent. It was bombarded by negative reviews and complaints on launch. And, it is still far from being considered a good game. But progress is being made with patches and updates. FM26’s next update promises much, with patch 26.1.2 bringing UI tweaks, crucial fixes, and stability improvements.
Sports Interactive posted an update preview on their forums, confirming the patch to be rolled out on 19th January, 2026, on Steam, Epic, and Microsoft Store.
The official key changes include:
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- Fixed game freezing when using Instant Result during hotseat mode.
- Redesigned ‘Stages’ and ‘Season Preview’ tile to be full screen.
- Further navigation enhancements, including additional drop-down options in the main and secondary nav bars.
- Improved functionality of customising/rearranging column placement on the first team squad view.
- Tweaks to the amount of money spent on ageing players by Premier League/High Profile clubs.
What Does The Update Focus On?
Much like previous patches, they are focusing on fixing up the UI, which is honestly a good thing. With this new patch, they are promising better transitions between screens, redesigned stages, and season preview screens. Along with that, they are also cleaning up the UI and making it make more sense by adding things like drop-downs to improve navigation. In short, global navigation and overall UI are finally getting the glow-up it needed.
Stability improvements are also talked about, one of the most annoying flaws of the game. Those freezes during Instant Result may finally be gone. Console and Touch versions will get major stability updates too, so expect those squad planner issues and profile view bugs to fade soon.
SI also notes the update for Console and Touch players would be twice the normal size, as it contains twice the fixes.
Roadmap Keeps Momentum
This “two updates long” patch shows Sports Interactive sticking to their 2026 plan, so expect new patches and further fixes to roll out every couple of weeks, starting with patch 26.1.12.
Players will get a relief following FM26’s disastrous launch, and SI may just be able to hold onto them if they deliver on their intended approach.
Full changelogs are yet to be rolled out, so keep an eye out for more details.
