We’ve already talked about how the newgen faces in Football Manager 26 look uncanny, but a football manager website has found the rabbit hole goes deeper. According to Sort It Out, every newgen face in the game is just a static PNG file. Yes, static images. They were created once, saved, and shipped with the game rather than being dynamically generated for each new player.
A Simplified System With Poor Results
On the surface, this is a bit of a wild revelation. But technically, it’s a bit more nuanced. The system implemented by Sports Interactive likely works by pulling from a library of pre-rendered portraits that align with certain face parameters. This ensures visual consistency between different player photos and their 3D models on the pitch. So, yes, the faces aren’t generated dynamically, and this approach does limit variety and realism. Every “new” face is really just a recycled static image, and it shows.
Fans on Twitter/X were quick to call the implementation “lazy” and “dated”, noting that community modders have been producing better facepacks for years. They’re not wrong — this Facepack was made by a fan called BassyBoy, and while there are some kinks to iron out, it does look better than the default newgen faces. Here’s how one fan aired their frustration:
“They worked on this for 4 years? Basic ChatGPT pictures would be better.”
Many players are now questioning why Sports Interactive simply didn’t collaborate with fan creators who have already perfected the art of lifelike newgen faces. The likely answer is licensing: mods often use assets that can’t legally be used in a commercial release. Still, that explanation isn’t exactly cooling people down. It’s a glaring weak spot for a game that’s supposed to center around immersion and realism.
Of course, there are bigger issues, like the polarizing new UI and lack of international management at launch (even if a “module” is coming out later). However, it’s an issue nonetheless.
