If you‘re a passionate Football Manager gamer like me, you‘ve probably wondered – is the powerful FM editor free, or do I have to pay for it? As a long-time FM addict, I‘ve done plenty of research into this myself. In this detailed guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about the FM editor cost, functionality, and whether it‘s worth it!
The short answer: The editor was paid DLC in the past, but FM2023 will include a basic editor for free. The advanced Pro Editor still costs $19.99. Let‘s dive deeper…
What is the Football Manager Editor?
For the uninitiated, the Football Manager editor is a powerful tool for customizing and modifying the FM database. With it, you can edit almost any aspect of the game world, including:
- Detailed player attributes like pace, dribbling, passing, etc.
- Player potential abilities and CA/PA
- Team tactics, finances, kits, logos
- League rules, prize money, reputations
- Stadiums, team training facilities
- Staff attributes and roles
- Competitions, awards, history
Essentially, it gives you god-like control to shape the FM universe however you want. Both for tailoring the experience to your liking, and designing creative scenarios to play through.
As an avid FM player for over 15 years, I can‘t play without the editor – it adds endless replayability and flexibility when designing save games.
The Editor History – Why Wasn‘t It Free?
Past FM games have always required a separate purchase for the editor as DLC. There are a few reasons behind this:
- It‘s an advanced tool that gives lots of control, so it‘s premium content.
- The ongoing development and maintenance has a cost.
- Paid access helps balance the gameplay and prevent "cheating" in online modes.
- As an optional extra, it earns additional revenue from loyal fanbase.
So while the rationale made sense, it was still frustrating to have to buy the editor separately every year! Especially when trying to convince more casual friends to try it out.
Good News! FM2023 Includes Free Editor
The exciting news is that Football Manager 2023 will include a free in-game editor for all players!
This editor will provide basic functionality like editing player attributes, team tactics, kits, etc. The key things that fans use most often.
Of course there‘s still an advanced Pro Editor DLC available for $19.99, which unlocks more advanced tools. But the free editor will meet most needs.
As a long-time fan, this free editor is a very welcome change. Not having to buy the editor every year is a big relief, and it will allow more casual players to experience customizing their game. Nice one, Sega!
FM Editor Pricing Breakdown
Here‘s a quick breakdown of what to expect in terms of editor pricing:
| Game | Free Editor | Standard Editor | Pro Editor |
|---|---|---|---|
| FM2023 | Yes | – | $19.99 |
| FM2022 | – | $8.99 | $19.99 |
| FM Mobile 2022 | – | $8.99 | – |
So in FM2023, you can access all key editing features without paying extra. In past versions, you had to pay about $10 for editor access.
The Pro Editor provides the most advanced tools for power users, at $19.99.
And on mobile, the editor remains a $8.99 in-app purchase. No free options there yet.
Getting the Most Value from Your Editor
As a veteran FM player, let me share some tips for getting the most value if you do invest in that Editor DLC:
- Wait for a sale: The editor often gets discounted by 25-50%. Save some money!
- Learn all the features: Don‘t just edit players! Modify competitions, finances, kits, training, etc.
- Design fresh scenarios: Custom challenges make every save unique. Examples: All-legend players, $0 budgets, only youth academy allowed.
- Fix in-game issues: Tweak unbalanced mechanics, squad issues, unrealistic elements. Enhance realism.
- Share your creations: Edit fun teams and players then share with the community for others to enjoy!
You really do get endless possibilities from the editor if you dive into all it can do. It brings so much more depth and takes FM to the next level.
Should You Buy the Editor DLC?
So, is the FM editor worth paying for?
For hardcore, dedicated FM players like myself, the editor is easily worth every penny. It adds practically infinite customization combinations, enhancing longevity and creativity.
More casual players may not need or want that level of editing power however. For them, the free FM2023 editor will provide all the basic customization they need for modifying players, kits, transfers etc.
For anyone serious about FM though, my advice is to grab the editor when it‘s on sale. The ability to shape your ideal FM world and build unique scenarios is game-changing.
Conclusion – Editor Unlocks Endless Creativity
To recap, the free FM2023 editor is fantastic news for all fans and removes a major barrier. No longer do we need to buy editor access every year!
For past versions, keep an eye out for sales on the Editor DLC. It may seem costly, but totally transforms FM into an infinitely flexible creative platform.
What are you waiting for? Go unleash your imagination on the FM universe! Build the world you dream of, with unlimited possibilities. Just don‘t blame me if you suddenly lose all track of time thanks to the editor – it‘s that addictive!
Let me know if you have any other questions. I could talk FM editing all day long. It‘s by far my favorite part of the game. Have fun shaping the future of football!
