Sega and Sports Interactive have made the tough decision to cancel Football Manager 25 across all platforms, marking the first time the beloved sports simulation series has skipped a year since its inception in 2004. This decision comes after a challenging development period, particularly with the transition to the Unity game engine, which caused significant issues with the player experience and interface.
The announcement was part of Sega Sammy Holdings' latest financial results, which included a writedown of costs related to the game. Sports Interactive, after "extensive internal discussion and careful consideration" with parent company Sega, made the call to cancel the game. Sega has assured that no jobs will be affected by this decision.
Sports Interactive also confirmed that there will be no update for Football Manager 24 with the 2024/25 season data, as it would detract from the resources needed for the development of the next release. The studio is currently negotiating with platform holders and licensors to possibly extend the availability of FM24 on subscription services like Game Pass.
FM25 had faced two delays prior to its cancellation, with the most recent delay pushing the release to March 2025. Now, Sports Interactive is shifting its focus to Football Manager 26, aiming for a release in the traditional November window.
The developer expressed deep regret to fans who had pre-ordered FM25, offering refunds as a gesture of goodwill. They acknowledged the disappointment, especially after multiple delays and the anticipation surrounding the first gameplay reveal. Legal and financial regulations delayed the announcement until now.
Sports Interactive emphasized their commitment to delivering high-quality games that offer great value and enjoyment. FM25 was intended to be a significant technical and visual leap for the series, setting the stage for a new era. However, despite the team's efforts, the game did not meet the desired standards in key areas, particularly the player experience and interface. Extensive consumer playtesting validated the new direction but also highlighted that the game was not yet up to the mark.
The studio could have released FM25 in its current state and planned to fix issues post-launch, but they chose not to compromise on quality. Delaying beyond March was also not feasible as it would be too late in the football season for players to then purchase another game later in the year.
With the cancellation of FM25, Sports Interactive is now fully focused on ensuring that the next release, Football Manager 26, meets their high standards and fulfills the expectations of the fans. They promised to keep the community updated on their progress as soon as possible.
Sports Interactive concluded by thanking fans for their patience and continued support, reaffirming their dedication to creating a new era for the Football Manager series.
