Sports Interactive Opens FM27 Playtesting to a Wider Public via FirstLook

Sports Interactive has announced a broader playtesting program for Football Manager 27, marking what the studio describes as bringing its playtesting experience into a "new era." The program is being run in partnership with FirstLook, and registration is open now via a waitlist.

What changed

• FM27 playtesting is being opened to a wider group of players than previous programs, explicitly to gather a variety of experience levels.
• Accepted testers will receive early access to development builds containing new features and improvements.
• In return, participants are asked to play as much as possible, complete surveys, and report bugs — feedback the internal teams will use to make further changes.
• Testers gain access to exclusive spaces on the SI Forums and Discord, where they can interact with other testers and members of the Sports Interactive community and development teams.
• Registering does not guarantee entry; all submissions are reviewed and the studio's decision on accepted users is final. The sign-up form asks about FM experience, with honest answers requested.
• Separately, Sports Interactive is conducting in-studio playtesting with selected community members who have consistently provided useful feedback; those individuals are being contacted directly by the SI Community Team.

For players who have long wanted a meaningful say in FM's development cycle, this program represents a more structured and accessible route in — though a waitlist still stands between interest and access.