The Football Manager 27 Launch Preview is FM27’s early access, and it starts on Thursday, October 29 at 18:00 UTC (6pm GMT, 2pm ET). For the first five days it is free for everyone on PC and Mac through Steam, the Epic Games Store, the Microsoft Store, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The free period ends at 18:00 UTC on Tuesday, November 3. After that, only players who pre-purchase or play through Game Pass keep their access until the full release on November 10, and your saves carry over the whole way.
This guide sets out what Sports Interactive and SEGA have confirmed about the Launch Preview: start and end times in your time zone, who gets in, what carries over to the full game and how to be ready when the download opens. Every date here comes from the official Launch Preview announcement on footballmanager.com (October 21) and the FM27 Steam page, checked on October 27, 2026 at 23:00 UTC.
Table of Contents
Quick answer
- Is there an FM27 beta? Not under that name. The Launch Preview replaces what earlier Football Manager games called the Beta or Advanced Access.
- When does it start? October 29, 18:00 UTC. It is free to everyone until November 3, 18:00 UTC.
- Which platforms? PC and Mac only: Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. No console or mobile preview has been announced.
- Do I need to pre-order? Not for the five free days. To keep playing from November 3 to November 10 you need to pre-purchase from a SEGA-approved digital retailer (10% off) or play on Game Pass.
- Do saves carry over? Yes. SI says saves started during the free period continue into the paid Launch Preview and the full game.
- Full release date: November 10, 2026 on PC, Mac, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. FM27 Mobile (Netflix) and FM27 Touch (Apple Arcade) also launch that day.
FM27's improved match engine, from a development build on the Steam page. Image: SEGA / Sports Interactive
FM27 Launch Preview start time by region
SEGA gives the times in GMT. UK clocks went back on October 25, so 6pm GMT is the same as 18:00 UTC for the whole preview. US clocks go back on November 1, in the middle of the free period, so the Eastern and Pacific end times are an hour earlier than the start times.
| Region (time zone) | Free preview starts (Oct 29) | Free period ends (Nov 3) |
|---|---|---|
| UTC / UK (GMT) | 18:00 | 18:00 |
| Central Europe (CET) | 19:00 | 19:00 |
| Turkey and Saudi Arabia (UTC+3) | 21:00 | 21:00 |
| India (IST) | 23:30 | 23:30 |
| US East (EDT, then EST) | 2:00pm | 1:00pm |
| US West (PDT, then PST) | 11:00am | 10:00am |
| Brazil (Brasília, UTC-3) | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| Japan (JST) | 03:00 on Oct 30 | 03:00 on Nov 4 |
| Sydney (AEDT) | 05:00 on Oct 30 | 05:00 on Nov 4 |
Sports Interactive hasn’t given a time of day for the full launch on November 10, only the date. If you pre-purchase, the Launch Preview simply continues until then.
Who can play the Football Manager 27 Launch Preview
The Launch Preview has two stages, and who gets in depends on the stage.
| Stage | Dates (UTC) | Who can play | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Launch Preview | Oct 29, 18:00 to Nov 3, 18:00 | Anyone on PC or Mac via Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store; Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members | Free, no extra sign-up |
| Paid Launch Preview | Nov 3, 18:00 to Nov 10 | Players who pre-purchased from a SEGA-approved digital retailer; Game Pass players continue through their subscription | Pre-purchase, 10% off |
| Full release | From Nov 10 | Everyone who owns FM27 or has an eligible Game Pass tier; console and mobile versions join | Full price (not yet listed on Steam) |
Three details from the small print are worth knowing:
- Game Pass tier matters. The announcement says the Launch Preview is only available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. Other Game Pass tiers aren’t included.
- Retailer matters. Uninterrupted access after November 3 “only applies to those purchasing via SEGA-approved digital retailers”. If you plan to buy a key from a third-party shop, check that it’s an approved one first.
- All game modes are open. SI says the free period includes every game mode, so it isn’t a limited demo.
The pre-purchase window opens at the same moment as the free period, so there’s no pre-order button to chase before October 29. When we checked the Steam page on October 27 it still showed “Coming soon” for November 10, with no price listed. We won’t quote a price until SEGA or a store lists one.
How to get FM27 early access on October 29
- Pick your store. Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store all carry the preview. On Game Pass, use the Xbox app on PC.
- Wishlist it now. footballmanager.com recommends wishlisting FM27 on Steam, Epic or the Microsoft Store to get a notification when it’s playable.
- Free up space. The Steam page asks for 20 GB of free storage on both Windows and Mac.
- Check your PC against the requirements (table below). FM27 needs a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 install, and on Mac it supports macOS 13 or later.
- Download at 18:00 UTC on October 29. SEGA says no extra sign-up is needed, so your store login is enough.
- Decide before November 3, 18:00 UTC. To play without a break until launch, pre-purchase during the free period and keep the 10% discount. If you wait, SI says free-period saves can still be continued at full launch, so you won’t lose your career.
New pre-match cutscenes are part of FM27's matchday changes (development build). Image: SEGA / Sports Interactive
FM27 PC and Mac system requirements
These are the minimum and recommended specs from the FM27 Steam page (checked October 27, 2026).
| Minimum (Windows) | Recommended (Windows) | Minimum (Mac) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit | Windows 11, 64-bit | macOS 13, 14, 15 or 26 |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-530 or AMD FX-4100 (needs SSE4.2 and SSSE3) | Intel Core i5-9600 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | Apple M1 or Intel Core M |
| Memory | 6 GB RAM | 12 GB RAM | 6 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX 960, Radeon R9 380 or Intel HD 530 (1 GiB VRAM) | GeForce RTX 2060 or Radeon RX 5600 XT (2 GiB VRAM) | Apple M1, GeForce GT 750M, Intel HD Graphics 5000 or FirePro D300 |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 | n/a |
| Storage | 20 GB | 20 GB | 20 GB |
Laptop equivalents are listed on the store page too, for example an Intel Core i3-330M and GeForce GTX 960M at minimum.
What carries over from the Launch Preview to the full game
- Your saves. “All saves started during the free play period can be continued through to both the paid Launch Preview and full launch without the need to start again,” the announcement says. You can begin a long-term career on October 29.
- Game Pass careers. A save started on Game Pass continues through your subscription.
- Your access, if you pre-purchase from an approved retailer: no gap between November 3 and launch.
Two things the announcement does not cover. First, it says nothing about importing FM26 saves into FM27 on PC or Mac. Only saves started in the FM27 preview are confirmed to carry over. Second, the cross-title carry-over that SEGA mentions applies to FM27 Touch on Apple Arcade. That version “carries the ability to continue saves from past titles” via the cloud, according to SI’s Touch announcement.
What to expect in the preview build
SI describes the Launch Preview as a version that is “closer in quality and finality to launch than previous early play builds”. It follows a difficult launch for FM26, which we covered in our Football Manager 27 free preview news story. The headline features promised for FM27 are a clearer interface with smarter navigation, an improved match engine, Tactical Tweaks and Tactical Effectiveness on the touchline, plus returning Cup Draws and Transfer Deadline Day and a new-look news feed.
One caveat comes straight from SEGA: the preview contains data still “under approval process by right holders”, and some club and player assets may be missing until launch. That matters for new licences. SI has announced that the Roshn Saudi League joins FM27 with all 18 clubs licensed (taking the game to 59 playable nations), and that France’s Arkema Première Ligue (women’s) is fully licensed. Some logos, kits or photos may only arrive with the full release.
Weather and lighting got major updates for FM27, per the Steam page (development build). Image: SEGA / Sports Interactive
Is there an FM27 Launch Preview on PS5, Xbox or mobile?
No early access has been announced for console or mobile. The Launch Preview announcement names PC and Mac only. According to SI’s launch-date announcement, all of these arrive on November 10:
- FM27 Console on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, including Game Pass console members;
- FM27 Mobile through Netflix;
- FM27 Touch on Apple Arcade (iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV), where the FM26 Touch App Store page updates to FM27 Touch automatically.
Game Pass members should note that both FM26 editions leave the service on November 10, the day FM27 arrives. The full list is in our Xbox Game Pass November 2026 guide.
How to use the free five days
Five days is enough to test the parts of a management sim that decide whether it’s worth buying: how the interface handles a busy matchday, whether the match engine rewards your tactics, and how your PC copes with a big database. The new Tactical Tweaks system is a good test, because players coming from older games will want to know how it changes their usual setups. Our Football Manager 2024 tactics guide covers the formations most players will start from. On mobile, the FM Mobile best tactics guide remains our most-read Football Manager page. If you like management games with numbers to optimise, our Two Point Museum money guide is another sim in the same vein.
FAQ
When does the Football Manager 27 beta start?
FM27 has no beta under that name. Its early access is called the Launch Preview, and it starts on October 29, 2026 at 18:00 UTC (6pm GMT, 2pm ET) on PC and Mac.
Is FM27 early access free?
Yes, for five days. From October 29, 18:00 UTC to November 3, 18:00 UTC anyone can play on Steam, Epic, the Microsoft Store, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. After that you need a pre-purchase from a SEGA-approved retailer or Game Pass.
Does FM27 Launch Preview progress carry over?
Yes. Sports Interactive says saves from the free period continue into the paid Launch Preview and the full game, so you don’t have to restart.
What is the Football Manager 27 release date?
November 10, 2026, on PC, Mac, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with FM27 Mobile on Netflix and FM27 Touch on Apple Arcade the same day.
Is FM27 on Game Pass?
Yes. It’s in the Launch Preview for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members, and it’s available on Game Pass from launch day, including the console edition for Game Pass console members.
Sources: Football Manager: Play FM27 Launch Preview for free (Oct 21, 2026); Football Manager: FM27 launches from 10 November (Sep 29, 2026); Football Manager: FM27 Touch on Apple Arcade (Oct 20, 2026); Football Manager: Roshn Saudi League in FM27 (Oct 27, 2026); Football Manager 27 on Steam (checked Oct 27, 2026).
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