Football Manager 26’s first retail-era update is here. Patch 26.0.4 lands as a day-one hotfix with more than 300 fixes and quality-of-life tweaks, and it’s currently available only on Steam via the Public Beta Track. The download is a 827MB update released on November 5th, 2025, and it’s save-game compatible—there’s no need to start over.
FM26 patch 26.0.4 details
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Version | 26.0.4 (hotfix 6) |
| Release date | November 5, 2025 |
| Download size | ~827MB |
| Availability | Steam only, Public Beta Track |
| Save compatibility | Yes, existing saves carry on |
| Headline changes | New attribute colour preferences; option to disable/adjust UI transition speed; 1.5x Match Speed setting |
| Fixes | Crash/stability improvements; translation corrections; text overlap/misalignment fixes; tile/card polish |
New settings in 26.0.4 (UI and matchday)
- Attribute colours: add preferences to adjust how attribute colours display.
- UI transitions: add a preference to turn off or change the speed of transitions between screens.
- Match speed: introduce a 1.5x Match Speed option for a faster pace without jumping straight to high-speed playback.
These options respond directly to early feedback from the Beta, giving players more control over interface responsiveness and match tempo.
Fixes and stability improvements
- Substantial crash fixes and overall stability improvements.
- Numerous string translation corrections.
- Widespread text overlap and alignment fixes across screens.
- Tile and card layout polish to improve readability.
The volume here matters. With more than 300 changes under the hood, the hotfix targets the rough edges that surfaced during the Beta and immediate retail launch window.
How to get patch 26.0.4 (Steam Public Beta Track)
This update is currently limited to Steam’s Public Beta Track. Close Football Manager 26, opt into the game’s Public Beta Track on Steam, and let the update download. If it doesn’t appear, restart Steam to trigger the download.
General update behavior—quit and relaunching your client to prompt a download—matches the standard guidance on the official support page for installing and updating Football Manager 26. If you need that reference, use the FM26 install and update guide on SEGA Support: FM26 — How to Install and Update.
Note: The patch is save-game compatible; your existing careers will continue after updating.
What’s next
The next Public Beta Track update is already in development and is set to add a legacy preference to advance through messages with the spacebar. Expect more iterative updates on the beta branch before broader rollout.
Patch 26.0.4 is a pragmatic day-one pass: a sizeable list of fixes and practical controls that make FM26 feel faster and cleaner to use, especially for players sensitive to UI transition delays and match pacing. If you’re on Steam and want these changes today, the Public Beta Track is the route.
