In an unexpected turn of events, Sega and UK-based developer Sports Interactive have announced the cancellation of Football Manager 25 across all platforms. This marks the first time since its inception in 2004 that the popular sports simulation series will miss a yearly release. The decision follows a challenging development cycle, particularly with the transition to the Unity game engine, which has impacted the player experience and interface.
The cancellation was revealed as part of Sega Sammy Holdings' latest financial results, which included a writedown of costs related to the game. Sports Interactive confirmed the decision came after "extensive internal discussion and careful consideration" with their parent company, Sega. Fortunately, Sega has assured IGN that no job roles are affected by this news.
Sports Interactive has also confirmed that there will not be an update for Football Manager 24 with the 2024/25 season data, citing that such an update would divert essential resources away from the development of the next release, which now demands their full attention. The developer is currently negotiating with platform holders and licensors about extending the FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.
FM25 had faced two delays before its eventual cancellation, with the most recent delay pushing the release to March 2025. Now, the focus has shifted to Football Manager 26, slated for a typical November release.
In a heartfelt message to fans who pre-ordered FM25, Sports Interactive expressed deep regret for letting them down and announced that refunds are being offered. The developer acknowledged the disappointment, especially after the game's release date had been postponed twice, and fans were eagerly awaiting the first gameplay reveal.
The studio explained that the decision to cancel FM25 was made after it became clear that the game could not meet the desired standards, despite the team's best efforts. Sports Interactive had aimed to deliver "the biggest technical and visual advancement for the series in a generation," but encountered numerous unforeseen challenges, particularly with the player experience and interface.
The developer could have chosen to release FM25 in its current state and patch it later, but they believed this was not the right approach. Delaying the game beyond March would have been too late in the football season, making it unreasonable to expect players to purchase another game later in the year.
With the cancellation of FM25, Sports Interactive is now fully committed to ensuring that Football Manager 26 meets the high-quality standards expected by the community. They promised to provide updates on their progress as soon as possible and thanked fans for their patience and continued support as they work towards a new era for the Football Manager series.
