Football Manager 2024, the latest installment in the popular football management simulation series, has garnered a dedicated fan base, mostly because the game provides an experience like no other where you, as the player, take on the role of a manager and try to take your club to new heights. While there are plenty of issues to deal with, like player injuries and overall squad tactics in the game, for some players, the issues start even before they can jump into the in-game world. Yes, we are talking about the issue where some players have been stuck on an infinite loading screen, preventing them from starting their managerial careers. As always, in this article, we will explore this problem and offer possible solutions to help you get back to the game.
Many players have reported that when they attempt to start Football Manager 2024, the game doesn’t progress past the loading screen. Despite their efforts to click “Play” multiple times, the game remains stuck in this loop. If you have been gaming for some time, you must have faced a similar issue in other games as well. This is because an infinite loading screen is one of the most common errors that plague video games. So, is there a fix to this issue in FM 24? Continue reading to find out.
Football Manager 2024 Infinite Loading Screen Issue: Is there any fix yet
Currently, there is no official fix or workaround provided by the game developer, Sports Interactive. However, it is essential to note that the developers seem to be aware of the issue, as they have responded to player reports. While we eagerly await an official fix from the developers, here are some workarounds you can try to resolve the problem.
Disable Compatibility Mode
This has been a popular workaround among players discussing the issue online. This process removes any Windows compatibility settings applied to Steam, ensuring it functions correctly. To disable Compatibility Mode for Steam, follow these steps:
- Browse to your Steam installation directory, which is typically located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam.
- Here, find and right-click on Steam.exe or bin\steamwebhelper.exe and select “Properties”.
- In the “Compatibility” tab, uncheck any boxes that are checked, then click “Apply”.
- Click the “Change settings for all users” button.
- Ensure none of the compatibility boxes are checked, and click “OK”.
After that, start Steam, relaunch the game, and check if you can get past the infinite loading screen.
Workaround for MAC users
One player suggested that by allowing Steam full disk access, you can resolve the infinite loading screen problem in-game on your Mac. For Mac users facing the Football Manager 2024 infinite loading issue, you can resolve it by following these steps:
- Close Steam.
- Go to your Mac’s “System Settings”, and select “Privacy & Security”.
- Under “Full Disk Access”, click the “+” button and authenticate your action.
- Locate “Applications”, find “Steam”, and click “Open”.
- After this, locate Steam on the list of apps and make sure to grant it full disk access.
Once done, check if the issue persists.
Update GPU and Run the Game on a Dedicated Card
Ensuring that your GPU drivers are up-to-date is crucial for optimal game performance. So, visit the official website of the card’s manufacturer and check if there is an update available for the drivers of the card you use. If so, download and install the update. After that, it’s also essential to run the game using a dedicated graphics card rather than integrated graphics to avoid compatibility issues. To do so, the easiest way is to type “graphics” in the Windows search box and press enter. This will open up the Graphics Settings menu. Here, from the list of installed programs that appear, select FM 2024 and set it to “High Performance” by clicking on the Options button.
Clear Steam Download Cache
If you do not have an idea about clearing the Steam download cache, all you have to do is launch your Steam client and open the Settings panel by selecting Steam > Settings from the top-left client menu. In the Settings panel, select the Downloads tab, and you’ll find the “Clear Download Cache” button at the bottom.
Remove the Cache folder
Another workaround for resolving the Football Manager 2024 infinite loading screen issue is to remove the “Preference” and “Cache” folders of the game. To do this, press the Windows key and type “%AppData%,” then navigate to Local > Sports Interactive > Football Manager 2024. Here, you should find both of these folders. You can remove them or move them to a different directory. After this, launch the game and check if the issue persists.
Verify Game Files
Finally, you can try verifying the game files. To do this, head over to the Steam library, right-click on FM 24, and select Properties. Now, go to the Installed Files tab and select the Verify Integrity of Game Files option. Once done, launch the game.
Well, these workarounds may or may not help you resolve the infinite loading screen issue in FM 24; if they don’t, consider waiting for an official fix from the developers. Anyway, that brings us to the end of this guide. If you found this helpful, be sure to visit DigiStatement for more such gaming reads. Read more: Football Manager 2024 (FM 24): How to reduce Injuries?
