Why are the licenses an issue in FM24 and not previous versions?

[Facemelter]

I can go back to any previous FM and play with the licensed teams. Why is this a thing in FM24? I know the game is delayed, but once it's bought you stay with what you've got don't you?

[Masked]

SI probably didn't want to pay for licenses and they only paid it till their expected release of FM25, which was delayed.

So instead of paying for licenses for FM24 till March, they just basically screwed us over instead.

I have lost total faith in this company.

[Damedius]

It is an issue. The difference is that you can still buy FM 24, you can't buy previous FM's.

[Facemelter]

Originally posted by Damedius:

It is an issue. The difference is that you can still buy FM 24, you can't buy previous FM's.

Yes, but surely once you've bought an earlier version, everything in it should stay the same? Makes no sense. At least there's a way to resolve it but it's still a pain.

[Damedius]

Originally posted by Facemelter:

Yes, but surely once you've bought an earlier version, everything in it should stay the same? Makes no sense. At least there's a way to resolve it but it's still a pain.

It makes perfect sense. SI could have stopped selling FM 24 and took it off the store like they did with previous versions when the licensing agreement expired. However they want to keep selling FM 24 and can't/won't renew the agreement.

[Masked]

They should only affect new purchases, instead everyone whos already paid gets a downgraded version without warning because Sports Interactive have no idea what they are doing anymore.

[Powellinho.72]

Originally posted by Damedius:

Originally posted by Facemelter:

Yes, but surely once you've bought an earlier version, everything in it should stay the same? Makes no sense. At least there's a way to resolve it but it's still a pain.

It makes perfect sense. SI could have stopped selling FM 24 and took it off the store like they did with previous versions when the licensing agreement expired. However they want to keep selling FM 24 and can't/won't renew the agreement.

Thats it, usually we are left alone with the product as it is, but their greed wants it to stay up to continue making money due to fm 25 delay. We the customers get shafted.

[SMiThaYe]

Originally posted by Masked:

SI probably didn't want to pay for licenses and they only paid it till their expected release of FM25, which was delayed.

So instead of paying for licenses for FM24 till March, they just basically screwed us over instead.

I have lost total faith in this company.

In an ideal world which we clearly don't live in.... should make it cheaper for FM25 as it will have a shorter cycle for licencing so it should not be usual price but cheaper with it coming out in March instead of November. On the upside; gotta be grateful for those companies that agreed to continue to permit SI to use their trademarks.

I'm hoping the real name licencing fix gets an update to address this, it affected mostly Italian clubs (names and badges/logos) but also the match advertising hoardings and media/press, plus smaller stuff like licencing screens.

[Masked]

How will FM25 be cheaper when it's already for sale on pre-order?

[VeilStrider]

Most likely FM2024 and previous iterations have some expiration date for the licenses. Meaning, if they get past certain date, SI can't continue selling. Usually, the removals from the stores are enough to comply with this requirement.

However, since this year's different, and SI want to continue selling past the expiration date, they have to re-negotiate with the licensing partners. Some entities like Inter and Milan probably either didn't respond or didn't want to continue licensing for FM2024, therefore SI has to remove the copyrighted materials from all related parties in order to continue selling.

And for Steam or other store's copies, since this is a complicated crap, Steamworks does not support continued sales for same depot but with, say, separated IDs like older purchases or newer purchases past expiration date, therefore this crude approach full blown nuke on unlicensed materials.