Why Early Access?

“Ultimate Club Manager 26 is a sports management game with many interconnected systems (finances, calendar, squad, transfer market, competitions, events, and match simulation). We chose Early Access because the game is still under active development, and we want the community to influence our priorities, how we balance the economy and the transfer market, and which improvements should come first.

Our goal with Early Access isn't just to "polish" the game; it's to iterate with real players to improve the pace of progression, the realism of transfers, the difficulty, the AI, and the competition content. As we receive feedback, we will adjust balance, add content, and expand systems, with regular updates and clear patch notes.

We offer many near-complete game features, such as a 3D match engine, in-game economy systems, media, team building, social media, an advanced facility upgrade system, and much more. We offer over 25 features to try.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We estimate the game will remain in Early Access for approximately 2 to 6 months. This is an estimate and may vary depending on the feedback we receive and the final scope of improvements and content we incorporate during development.

We will update the roadmap and communicate progress with each major update, so players can clearly see what's being prioritized and what's coming next.

It could last a very short time at most; it depends on the feedback we receive to decide whether to enable it sooner or not.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The full version is designed to offer greater depth, more content, and a more robust experience. Our plan (subject to adjustments based on feedback) is to expand and improve the following key areas:

More gameplay content: more countries/leagues/generable teams, greater variety of competitions, and more comprehensive seasons.

More in-depth cups and competitions: improvements to formats, standings, draws, knockout stages, and schedule presentation.

More realistic AI and tactics: better positioning, on-field decisions, match pace, pressure, and transitions (a more realistic football experience).

A more polished 3D (cinematic) match engine: TV-style cameras, pre/post-match presentations, visual enhancements, improved match readiness, and performance adjustments.

A more refined economy and market: more consistent values ​​for age/average/potential, salaries, negotiation, and an improved overall balance.

An improved interface and accessibility: more settings options, better navigation, more visual feedback, and usability improvements.

Stability and performance: continuous optimizations and bug fixes based on user reports.

In Early Access, the game is playable and has a functional core, but some areas will still evolve (content, depth, balance, and presentation).”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The Early Access version already includes the core gameplay of "President Mode": club management, a calendar/weekly progress tracker, finances, decision-making, squad management, and a fully functional transfer market, as well as competition systems that run alongside your season.

It also includes a cinematic 3D match module (beta) that allows you to watch matches without direct control (in keeping with the President role) and provides results integrated into the calendar progress.

That said, the game is still under active development. During Early Access, we will be expanding the content (more leagues/countries/competitions), refining the balance (economy, values, progression), improving match AI, and polishing the presentation/UX, in addition to optimizations and stability improvements.

For more details on what's included today, see the "About This Game" section.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“The price may change during Early Access or as the game approaches its full release. Our goal is for the price to fairly reflect the content and depth as systems, improvements, and additional content are added.

If we decide to adjust the price at any point, we will communicate this in advance in the patch notes so that buyers know what to expect. We will consider many factors to determine whether to leave it as is or increase it.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“The community will be a central part of development. We plan to gather feedback and bug reports to prioritize improvements, adjust balance, and decide which features and content to release first.

The main channels for participation will be:

Steam Forums (suggestions, reports, discussions, and priority voting)

Discord (essential for better updates)

Updates and announcements within Steam (patches, roadmap, and major changes)

Optionally, social media/Discord (if enabled) for quick feedback and follow-up.

The idea is to maintain a continuous cycle of: listen → implement → test → adjust, with regular updates.”