![Football Manager 2026 Data Updates - [FM26] Ultimate Difficulty Pack](https://i.postimg.cc/3wQ7TYhd/easy.jpg)
Hardcore Mode increases difficulty through intelligence, pressure, and competition. Opposing managers are smarter and more adaptable, club boards are far less patient, and the transfer market becomes a ruthless battlefield. There are no easy rebuilds, no long grace periods, and no safe seasons. Tactical preparation, squad planning and consistency are essential to survive.
- Smarter, more adaptable AI managers;
- Highly ambitious and impatient boards;
- A more competitive transfer market without adding extra money;
- Reduced margin for error across all leagues.
Hardcore Mode is fair, realistic, and punishing — difficulty earned, not forced.
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💸 Berserk Mode – Survival Football
Berserk Mode takes everything from Hardcore Mode and pushes it further by attacking the financial foundations of football. Money is tight, budgets are reduced, and growth becomes painfully slow. Every contract matters. Every transfer is a risk. Financial mismanagement is no longer forgiven.
- Global financial nerf;
- Zero transfer and wage budgets;
- Removed sponsorship income;
- Slower club growth and harsher consequences.
This is survival football. Only well-run clubs endure.
Two paths. One goal. Survive football at its hardest.
![FM26 Data Tweaks [v1.7 | v2.8]](https://i.postimg.cc/t4fKVrB7/wonderkid.png)
Discussion: [FM26] Ultimate Difficulty Pack
92 comments have been posted so far.
In matches, without mode, my ball possesion was very high at all matches but now when opponent teams playing with possesion tactic, my possesion is around 45-55 which is good.
About transfer market, it is also harder, finding a free player for second league teams was harder.at last transfer season.
Bayern 1st 64ml spent 30
Dortmund 2nd 25mln spend 10.5
Real Madrid 1st 65 spent 8.25
Barca 2nd 198 spent 19
Liverpool 1st 75 spent 41
Arsenal 813k spent 35.5
Date of the game 28/5/2026
with time everything evolves, clubs get more money so transfer market is more active.
I'll take that as a compliment, having a hard more that is hard ahah
Bayern 1st = 4.85mln
Dortmund 2nd = 17.5mln
Arsenal 1st - aprox 43mln
Liverpool finished second in PL and has aprox 95 mln.
Napoli 1st 0
Real 1st 152mln - spend 12 mln in first season
Barca 2nd 147 mln - spend 19 mln
About the berserk, i have increased the stadium rent and decreased the ticket prizes. About the money for transfers, thats mostly due the TV incoming money which i didn't touch. also increasing ambition could make the presidents/owner to deliver more money (?)
I have almost use the same tactics what I used with Sampdoria (I have just move Wingers for FC and AM). Did it about half a season.
Finished 3rd (no transfers) and won europa conference.
Then they set a budget for next season.
I generally never have issue with lack of cash, I usually buy young players, free agents.
I don't know if the managers are smarter.
transfer Roundup after the season
I have simulated till beginning of the new season to see what the transfers looks like. This is in September and transfer window is closed.
Overall it get harder for you to build a team due to lack of cash but top teams having less cash can't keep buying players for 100ml to improve their teams to get better.
You can still move small transfer budget for wages and try to sign top free agent as soon they are interested to sing for you. In Sampdoria save I got more than 10 players which definitely going to improve my team in Serie A.
** same for the transfer market
and sponsorships are related to the game.
it's meant to be hard, thats why the name.
Is this patch only affecting the team you manage or all of them?
I would say it would be to much of a handicap when starting in 5 league of England.
Just got a new sponsor.