In the world of football gaming, few names resonate as strongly as Jon Hare, the creative force behind some of the genre’s most iconic titles. From the legendary Sensible Soccer to the more recent Sociable Soccer, Jon has been at the forefront of arcade football games for decades.
As we continue to enjoy the release of Sociable Soccer 24 and the upcoming Sociable Soccer 25, we sat down with Jon to discuss his journey, the vision behind the game, and what sets it apart from the competition.
Welcome, Jon! It’s fantastic to have you with us. Can you start by telling us a bit about yourself and the journey and vision behind Sociable Soccer 24?
Without wishing to blow my own trumpet too much I am possibly the most experienced football game designer in the world. My first football game was Microprose Soccer on the Commodore 64 in 1988, then Sensible Soccer & Sensible World of Soccer from 1992-1997 on many formats, then Sensible Soccer on mobile in 2004, then Sociable Soccer on Apple Arcade 2019- 2024 (All of these games have reached #1 in the charts).
Sociable Soccer 24 and the upcoming Sociable Soccer 25 bring the sensibility, fast gameplay and fun presentation to a fully FIFPRO-licensed football game for PC and Consoles that are associated with my previous football games.
Jon Hare
What sets Sociable Soccer 24 apart from other football games currently on the market?
It is the speed and immediate accessibility of the gameplay blended with the strength in depth of the real-world football data and the slightly humorous, Fortnite-style presentation of the characters and world.
Jon Hare
How has your experience with Sensible Soccer and other football games influenced the development of Sociable Soccer 24?
Sensible Soccer and my other games have massively influenced the approach to making Sociable Soccer. But with every generation of football games new hardware and new trends in gaming being new opportunities, so the challenge is very much to blend the best parts of the old with the best parts of the new across all platforms.
Jon Hare
The football game genre has long been dominated by titles like FIFA (now EA Sports FC). How does Sociable Soccer 24 aim to compete with these industry giants?
My old games Sensible Soccer and SWOS were the biggest football games in the World before FIFA existed so I am not intimidated by the challenge. But we have to be realistic EA Sports FC, Football Manager etc are fantastically executed, well-established games. We have to find our own place in the market with our game by establishing our place as the “Premier arcade football game” available today, an accolade that Sociable Soccer has already received from Pocket Gamer btw.
Jon Hare
Can you delve into the gameplay mechanics that players can look forward to in Sociable Soccer 24?
The main things to look out for are the simplified controls compared to FIFA, we have blended Sensible Soccer style controls with the use of basic buttons from FIFA to create a game that hopefully most gamers can just pick up and play with quick passing and end end to end action. As ever adding aftertouch to the ball to bend shots and passes is key and now you can also add power too.
Jon Hare
How important has community feedback been in the development and refinement of Sociable Soccer 24, especially regarding the recent patches?
When you are making a complex, multi-format, constantly evolving game like the Sociable Soccer series you are always planning 6 steps. What has been helpful with user feedback is to understand the stress points that need immediate attention and thanks to the input from our community we have been able to make numerous patches to continually improve the game.
Jon Hare
With 13,000 FIFPRO-licensed footballers available at no cost, how do you think this feature will impact players’ experience?
Firstly I hope players appreciate that adding over 13,000 licensed players from all over the world is not free from our end. We have worked hard to build a partnership with FIFPRO and we feel the authenticity real player names and photos bring to a title like Sociable Soccer is extremely valuable.
Players will enjoy developing their Career squad and collecting and upgrading their players as they climb the leagues.
Jon Hare
Sociable Soccer is a serious football game with a lot of research into 1,500 teams and 80 international competitions, but it also has a light arcadey touch as opposed to the bigger simulations. Giving it a more immediate feeling to play.
While emphasising gameplay, how do you balance graphics and aesthetics in Sociable Soccer 24 to meet modern gamers’ expectations?
Sociable Soccer puts gameplay first, every frame counts. We are continually improving upon and overhauling the player models and animations in the game, so it is hard to say when finished is finished. We have made significant progress with the game’s graphics over time and we will continue to do so in the future. A developer’s work is never done.
Jon Hare
Given the industry’s trend towards microtransactions, how does Sociable Soccer 24 maintain its ethical stance on player engagement and spending
Sociable Soccer 24 and Sociable Soccer 25 are both premium games with no IAPs, so all of our licensed player cards can be unlocked for free within the games.
Jon Hare
What can players expect from the multiplayer aspect of Sociable Soccer 24?
Sociable Soccer 24 & 25 couch multiplayer is one of the best sports multiplayer experiences available on PC and console.
Jon Hare
Online multiplayer is also very good and we recommend players to use our coded-friendly system to play against friends online
How do you plan to keep Sociable Soccer 24 fresh and engaging for players in the long term?
By continually upgrading with new features and player/team data updates, for example, Sociable Soccer 25 which will be a free update for anyone who has already bought Sociable Soccer 24.
Jon Hare
With the game set for release on various platforms, can you share any specifics about the console versions?
We have been working a lot on both improving the PC version and launching the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox series X versions these last couple of years.
PC and Nintendo Switch versions of Sociable Soccer 24 are already out in digital and physical formats.
Sociable Soccer 25 is due for launch on PC and all console platforms later this year and will include a full season data update and full support for offline play for handheld consoles like Switch and Steam Deck. as well as many other little tweaks and changes.
Jon Hare
The inclusion of charity support in the game is a unique touch. Could you tell us more about this decision and its importance?
Two of my closer friends in the games industry run the charities we currently feature. ‘Safe in our World’ is a mental health charity and ‘PlanetPlay’ is an environmental charity. In a game such as ours there is a lot of real estate such as pitch hoardings with which to advertise brands for commercial gain, we thought therefore that it was only good and proper to also use these spaces for worthy causes such as these.
Jon Hare
Are there any future expansions or additional content planned for Sociable Soccer 24 that you can share with us?
As I have already mentioned Sociable Soccer 25 on all PC and console formats (free for owners of Sociable Soccer 24) is a very substantial update coming soon.
Jon Hare
And to finish off, for a bit of fun. If you could pick any players to join you in a five-a-side team, who would you pick and why? Also, what position are you putting yourself in?
I play in defence in a 5-a-side team locally, who am I putting around me (in peak performance mode for their time):
Jon Hare
- GK: Tim Krul (my favourite ever keeper for my team Norwich)
- DF: Me
- DF: Giorgio Chiellini (the smiling assassin)
- MD: Lionel Messi (obviously)
- AT: Matt Le Tissier (just so I can watch him take the piss)
It’s clear from our conversation with Jon Hare that Sociable Soccer 24 is more than just a game—it’s a love letter to the football genre, blending nostalgia with modern gaming sensibilities. With its emphasis on fast-paced, accessible gameplay and a community-focused approach,
Sociable Soccer 24 is poised to carve out its own space in the crowded football gaming market. As Jon and his team continue to refine and expand the game, fans can expect even more exciting updates and content in the near future. If you’re looking for a fresh, fun football experience that stays true to its roots while embracing the future, Sociable Soccer 24 is definitely one to watch.
Remember, the game is coming soon to Xbox and PlayStation but you can grab it on the platforms below:
For even more Q&As like this, head on over to our interviews section.
