How to play Football Manager on Chromebook?

Chromebooks are an increasingly popular laptop, and Football Manager is a top selling game every year. So, can you play Football Manager on a Chromebook? Let’s find out…

Football Manager System Requirements

In order to play Football Manager you need a laptop with a decent spec. As a minimum you’d want to be looking at an Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, an SSD to help with speedy processing and a decent graphics card. Football Manager also requires Windows or macOS.

Now, Chromebooks aren’t known for being particularly powerful. They are built with affordability and simplicity in mind. They also run an operating system called Chrome OS which isn’t officially supported by Football Manager.

At this point you’re probably thinking that it isn’t possible to play FM on a Chromebook. However, read on and see your options…

Football Manager 2023 Chromebook – Xbox Game Pass

Football Manager 2023 was released on the 8th November 2022. With the release of FM23 came compatability with a new platform – Xbox Game Pass. This means it is now very easy to play Football Manager on a Chromebook.

All you need to do is head to the Google Play Store, install the Xbox Game Pass app, and search for FM23. What you will notice though is that the edition listed in the store is Football Manager 2023 Console. This is due to the fact that most people use Xbox Game Pass on console, and this edition of FM has an enhanced user interface for those playing with controllers.

So not ideal should you want the “full” FM experience, but overall, this is the easist way to play on Chromebook. Should you want that traditional Football Manager experience, using Steam Link may be your best option…

Using Steam Link to Play Football Manager on Chromebook

Your next best option for enjoying the full Football Manager experience on Chromebook is to use Steam Link.

The Steam Link app brings desktop gaming to your Chromebook. To play FM on Chromebook all you need to do is connect to your computer running Steam (on the same network) and you can start playing your existing Steam games.

By playing using Steam Link you also negate the fact that Chromebooks are not inherently powerful laptops. All the processing is done on your main computer, all you are doing is steaming to your Chromebook.

So for those with the equipment, this is the best method to play.

FM Mobile on Chromebook

Football Manager 2023 Mobile is the lightest version of the game designed to be played on mobile devices. It is available to Chromebooks in the Google Play Store, usually for £8.99. This version is stripped right back to the core features – you’ll mostly be playing matches and making transfers.

It’s not the version for everyone. I’ve tried many versions over the years and just don’t find it as immersive or enjoyable. But this all depends on what you want to get out of the game. It’s easy to get playing right away on even the most basic of devices.

Install Steam (via Linux) on Chromebook to Play Football Manager

Warning: This one is definitely for the more advanced users!

This method involves installing Steam onto your Chromebook as a Linux application. This isn’t compatible with every model of Chromebook. Generally your Chromebook must be Intel based, which most are these days.

By installing Steam locally, you can attempt to install Football Manager locally. However, please be aware that there is no guarantee this will work!

Here is our guide on how install Steam as a Linux app on your Chromebook. Follow the link and scroll down to method 2 for the 12 step guide. Good luck if using this method!

Google Stadia to Play Football Manager

For a time Football Manager used to be available on Google Stadia, a cloud based gaming subscription service. FM20 disappeared from this service in December 2020. FM21 never made an appearance and neither did FM22 on the platform. With Google Stadia closing in January 2023, this option will never return for future editions.

Conclusion

So in conclusion, you have numerous options for a Football Manager experience on Chromebook. Using Xbox Game Pass is the easiet option to play Football Manager on Chromebook. The next best option is Steam Link, followed by playing FM Mobile or installing Steam as a Linux app.

Good luck in finding your method and discovering all those wonder kids!

FAQ