7.5

Review: Pro Cycling Manager 25

Introduction

Pro Cycling Manager 25, developed by Cyanide Studio and published by Nacon, appeared on 5 June 2025 On PC. It is the latest in the long-term PCM franchise and presents itself as a game that takes a huge step forward, especially in the visual field, thanks to the transition to Unreal Engine 5. Fans of cycling management hope that the series not only gets a new graphical boost, but also remains fresh in content.

Visual upgrades: Unreal Engine 5

The switch to Unreal Engine 5 is undoubtedly the most striking innovation in PCM 25.

• Landscapes and lighting: stages look more realistic than ever, with dynamic weather conditions, light reflections and detailed environments. Especially in mountain stages and the iconic finish on the Champs-élysées this comes out strongly.
• Weather effects: rain showers, peeing on the asphalt and changing lighting conditions provide an atmospheric and vibrant image.
• Community reactions confirm the leap forward: fans call the visuals “stunningâ€... something that the series needed for years.

In short, graphically PCM 25 finally feels modern, as if the game has made a catch-up to the standards of 2025.

Gameplay and depth

Management & Strategy

The core of PCM 25 remains true to the well-known recipe: managing a cycling team with all the organisational and sportive challenges associated with it. Transfers, training schedules, team selections and course strategies form the backbone of career mode.
New this year is a comprehensive sponsor system:

• Teams can have up to three main sponsors, each with their own conditions (e.g. national riders, younger quota or specific performance).
• The player must negotiate tactically and make the right choices to ensure both financial stability and sporting growth.
• In addition, there are customizable difficulty options, which makes you decide how challenging the funding, opposition and sponsor requirements are.

Race dynamics and AI

The AI has been significantly improved:

• Shifts react more realistically to escapes.
• Sprints feel more exciting and less predictable.
• In hilly stages, teams show more resilience.

During races the player gives instructions as protect the headman, launch an attack or get water bottles. However, there are some problems: The simulation option can give strange outcomes, such as a servant who accidentally ends up on stage instead of the headman.

Interface & Sound

The interface is virtually unchanged: This is familiar to veterans, but makes the game difficult for newcomers. A modern, more user-friendly update would not have been wrong here.
Qua sound the package is solid but rigid. There is no music during races, making many players turn on their own playlist or podcast. The commentator brings atmosphere, but his variation is limited, which quickly makes statements repetitive.

Critical points

Licenses & Modding

The licenses remain a pain. Many riders and teams have fictitious names (Remi Edengoal instead of Remco Evenepoel, for example). Mods are therefore almost mandatory again for those who want realism.

Visual and substantive limitations

• Renner models look generic and lack emotion or personality.
• The scouting system rarely brings surprises; Everything feels mechanical and predictable.
• Team dynamics and interaction between riders are minimal, which is a missed opportunity for more depth.

Technical and gameplay issues

• Time trips are underdeveloped; specific tactics such as shift time trial behavior lack or work defective.
• Technical problems such as framedrops and bugs in the 3D simulation still regularly arise.
• Sometimes runners don't listen to commands.
• Mass sprints and slopes produce chaotic, little realistic results.

Despite the transition to a new engine, old childhood diseases remain visible.