FM23: how to play multiplayer, online with friends?

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Football Manager 2023 (FM23) offers a fantastic multiplayer experience, letting you compete against or alongside your friends in the world of football management. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough of how to set up and enjoy online play, including some tips and tricks not always covered elsewhere.

Setting Up Your Online Career:

  1. Create Your Manager Profile: If you haven't already, create your manager profile. This is separate from your individual saved games and is used for online play.

  2. Navigate to Online Career Mode: From the FM23 start screen, select "Online Career." This is the dedicated mode for multiplayer games.

  3. Configure Your Online Game: This is where you set the parameters for your online experience:

    • Game Name: Give your online save a descriptive name (e.g., "Premier League Showdown," "Friends' Championship").
    • Password (Optional but Recommended): Set a password to ensure only your invited friends can join. This is crucial for private games.
    • Network Game Type: Choose between "Public" (open to anyone) or "Private" (invite-only). For playing with friends, select "Private."
    • Host Options (If you are the host): You can set various options like the starting season, database size, and whether to use the pre-game editor data. Discuss these with your friends beforehand for a smoother experience.

  4. Team Selection: After configuring the game, you'll choose your team.

    • Playing in the Same League (Recommended): For a more engaging experience, playing in the same league (or even division) is highly recommended. This creates direct competition and more frequent match-ups.
    • Different Leagues (Alternative): If you prefer a less direct competitive environment, you can choose teams in different leagues and track each other's progress.

  5. Database Selection: Choose your player database size. A larger database includes more players and adds realism but can impact performance, especially for the host.

  6. Confirm and Start the Game: Once everything is set, confirm your choices and start the online career.

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Inviting Your Friends:

  • In-Game Invitation: The most common method is to invite friends directly through the game. Once the online career is created, there should be an option to invite players. This usually involves sending an invitation through the Steam overlay (if using Steam) or the Epic Games launcher (if using Epic).
  • Sharing the Game Name and Password: If you've set a password, you'll need to share the game name and password with your friends so they can join. They can then search for the game by its name in the "Join Online Game" section.

Troubleshooting and Additional Tips:

  • Connection Issues: If you or your friends experience connection problems, check your internet connections and ensure your firewalls aren't blocking FM23. Restarting your routers can often help.
  • Host's Responsibility: The host's computer plays a crucial role in the online game's performance. A more powerful computer generally leads to a smoother experience for everyone.
  • Saving the Game: Online games are saved on the host's computer. Ensure the host saves regularly to prevent data loss.
  • Dealing with Disconnections: If a player disconnects, the game will usually pause. They can then rejoin the game. If the host disconnects, the game will be interrupted, and you'll need to reload from the last save.
  • Communication: Using a voice chat program like Discord is highly recommended for coordinating transfers, tactics, and general banter.
  • Pre-Game Discussion: Before starting an online career, discuss your expectations, preferred database size, and any house rules you want to implement. This will prevent disagreements later on.
  • Using the Pre-Game Editor: If you want to customize the game world further (e.g., adding or removing leagues, editing player attributes), the host can use the pre-game editor and then load that data into the online game.

By following these steps and tips, you can enjoy a seamless and engaging online experience with your friends in Football Manager 2023. Remember to communicate, be patient, and most importantly, have fun!

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