FM 27 Launch Preview: Free Until 3 November, Saves Carry

29 Oct – 3 Nov Free play window

6pm GMT Free play ends on 3 November

5 Stores and subscriptions

All Game modes open

10% Pre-purchase discount

How to play the FM27 Launch Preview

Three steps get you into the game on PC or Mac. There is no code to redeem and no extra sign-up.

Pick your store

Open FM27 on Steam, Epic Games Store or the Microsoft Store, or use an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription.

Download the preview

Use the usual FM27 store page and download. The Microsoft Store lists the free Launch Preview as its own product, so pick that entry there.

Start any mode

Begin a career or try Shuffle Draft, the new multiplayer mode. Free play puts no cap on how long you play or how far you get.

Where the Launch Preview runs

Free play and the paid period use the same stores. What changes on 3 November is who can keep playing.

Store or service	Free play	After 6pm GMT on 3 November
Steam	Free	Pre-purchase, 10% off
Epic Games Store	Free	Pre-purchase, 10% off
Microsoft Store	Free	Pre-purchase, 10% off
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate	Included	Continues with your subscription
PC Game Pass	Included	Continues with your subscription
FM27 Console, Mobile and Touch	Not included	Starts on 10 November

What happens on 3 November

The preview runs in three stages. Your career stays usable through all of them, as long as you own the game or subscribe.

29 October to 3 November

Free play

Anyone on PC or Mac can play at no cost, from 6pm GMT on 29 October.

3 to 10 November

Paid Launch Preview

Only pre-purchasers from a SEGA-approved retailer and Game Pass subscribers keep playing.

From 10 November

Full launch

FM27 releases on every platform, and your career continues without a restart.

Does my save carry over?

Yes. Any save created before launch continues into the paid Launch Preview and then the full game, with no need to start again.

That makes the free period a real start to your career, not a throwaway trial. If you began on Game Pass, you can move from the free preview to the paid one through your subscription.

FM27 free to play announcement banner — Free play opened on 29 October and runs for five days.

How the preview differs from the full game

This is a near-final build, intended to be closer to the launch version than the old early-play builds. Some club and player assets may be missing while licences are approved, and some data may not match the real world yet.

Bugs are still possible, and the SI Forums have a dedicated area for reporting them. Player ratings can also change before release, so treat our wonderkid and best-player lists as Launch Preview values. Steam achievements are not published yet either.

FM27 Launch Preview announcement banner — The Launch Preview replaces the Beta and Advanced Access of earlier years.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an FM27 beta?

Not under that name. The Launch Preview replaces the Beta and Advanced Access of earlier Football Manager games, and it is meant to sit closer to the finished game.

Is there an FM27 demo?

The free play period does that job and goes further than a demo, since all modes and features are open. It closes at 6pm GMT on 3 November.

Is the Launch Preview on console or mobile?

No. The Launch Preview runs on PC and Mac only. FM27 Console, FM27 Mobile and FM27 Touch all begin on 10 November 2026.

What if I do not pre-purchase by 3 November?

Your access stops at 6pm GMT unless you are on Game Pass. Buy the game later and you can continue the career you started, because saves from before launch carry over.

Sources

Last updated: 30 October 2026