Sports Interactive and Sega have announced the cancellation of Football Manager 25 across all platforms. This marks the first time the long-running series has skipped a year since its inception in 2004. The decision follows a challenging development process hampered by the transition to the Unity game engine. While initially touted as a significant technical and visual leap, the new engine presented unforeseen difficulties, particularly impacting the player experience and user interface.
The cancellation was revealed alongside Sega Sammy Holdings' financial results, which include a write-down of FM25 development costs. Sports Interactive explained in a blog post that the decision, made after extensive internal discussions with Sega, was necessary to maintain the series' high standards. Sega has confirmed that no job losses are associated with this announcement.
There will be no Football Manager 24 update incorporating 2024/25 season data, as resources are fully dedicated to Football Manager 26. Sports Interactive is currently negotiating with platform holders and licensors to potentially extend FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.
FM25 faced two prior delays before its ultimate cancellation, with the last projected release date set for March 2025. The developer is now concentrating efforts on Football Manager 26, anticipated for its usual November release window. Refunds are being offered to those who pre-ordered FM25.
Sports Interactive acknowledged the disappointment this news will cause, particularly given the previous delays and anticipation. They emphasized their commitment to delivering high-quality games and explained that despite progress in several areas, the overall player experience and interface did not meet their standards, a conclusion supported by extensive internal testing and consumer feedback. Releasing a subpar game, or delaying further into the football season, was deemed unacceptable.
The developer assures fans that their focus is now entirely on Football Manager 26, aiming to deliver a game that meets the expected quality level, promising future updates on its progress.
