Football Manager 27 will be free to play on PC and Mac from October 29 to November 3, 2026, a week before its November 10 launch. SEGA and Sports Interactive confirmed that every game mode is open and that saves carry over to the full game.

The free window lets you start a career and decide whether to buy without losing any progress. Here is how it works, who can keep playing after November 3 and what your PC needs.

Official Football Manager 27 screenshot of the redesigned interface
Football Manager 27 promises a cleaner interface with fewer clicks and better scaling. Image: Sports Interactive / SEGA

Football Manager 27 free play: dates and start time

According to the official Football Manager announcement, the free period starts at 6pm GMT on October 29 (2pm ET, 11am PT) and runs for five days, until November 3.

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  • Platforms: PC and Mac only. The console version is not part of the free window.
  • Stores: Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store, Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.
  • Sign-up: none. You download the game from your preferred store and play.
  • Content: all game modes are available.

Does your save carry over?

Yes. Any save you start during the free days carries over to the paid Launch Preview and to the full game, so there is no need to restart your career on launch day. For Football Manager players, who often sink dozens of hours into a single save, that is the most important detail.

Official Football Manager 27 screenshot of the match engine
SEGA says the FM27 match engine has been improved, alongside new Tactical Tweaks and Tactical Effectiveness tools. Image: Sports Interactive / SEGA

What happens after November 3: the Launch Preview

When the free window closes, play continues as the Launch Preview from 6pm GMT on November 3 until the full release on November 10. Access is limited to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers, plus anyone who buys the game through a SEGA-approved digital retailer. Pre-purchasing in this period comes with 10% off.

The Launch Preview replaces what earlier games called the Beta or Advanced Access, and Sports Interactive says it is closer to the final release. There is one caveat: some club and player assets may be missing, and some data may not match the real world yet, because it is still going through rights-holder approval.

Licensing is still being added, too. Sports Interactive confirmed on October 19 that France's Arkema Première Ligue is fully licensed in FM27, and more announcements of this kind are likely before November 10. If a specific league or club matters to you, the free days are a good chance to check how it looks before paying.

In practice, there are three ways to play before launch: free for everyone on PC and Mac from October 29 to November 3, through Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass from November 3, or by pre-purchasing on a SEGA-approved store, which also unlocks the Launch Preview.

FM27 release date, platforms and PC requirements

The full game launches on November 10, 2026 on PC and Mac, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S as FM27 Console, on mobile through Netflix and as FM27 Touch on Apple Arcade. Game Pass members get it at launch: the PC version through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, and the console version through Game Pass on Xbox.

The requirements are light. The Steam page lists Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), an Intel Core i3-530 or AMD FX-4100, 6 GB of RAM, a GeForce GTX 960, Radeon R9 380 or Intel HD 530 with 1 GB of VRAM, and 20 GB of storage. On Mac, you need macOS 13 or newer with an Apple M1 or Intel Core M. If you are not sure how your PC compares, see our guide to reading system requirements.

Official Football Manager 27 screenshot of a club's squad and data screens
FM27 also overhauls the news feed and adds cup draws and transfer deadline day presentation. Image: Sports Interactive / SEGA

Why the free window matters

Sports Interactive's last few years were bumpy: FM25 was cancelled, and FM26 arrived as the first entry on a new engine with a divided reception. A free, no-strings trial with a save that carries over is a clear way to win back players who are on the fence. It also lands as football games compete hard for attention, with EA Sports FC 27 pushing its new The Grounds mode.

SEGA has promised weekly feature reveals until launch. If you plan to try it, the simplest path is to install from your usual PC store on October 29 and start the career you intend to keep.