Sports Interactive attracted a lot of attention recently for the introduction of openly gay players in Football Manager 2018.
The feature applies strictly to ‘new-gen’ players - those generated by the game once real players have retired. It works by showing you a news item whenever a player comes out as gay. This announcement will then lead to a temporary increase in merchandise sales with fans buying the player’s shirts in an act of solidarity and support. After that, it is never mentioned again.
If you need further proof that Football Manager 2018 is a top game then read our review.
On the surface, this might not seem like a significant inclusion, but given the popularity of the game and the widespread issue of homophobia in sport it is an admirable step towards normalising the existence of homosexual footballers. The last five Football Manager games have sold over one million units each, making it one of the most successful series in UK game history, and a significant platform for raising awareness of discrimination in sport.