Sports Interactive and Sega have made the difficult decision to cancel 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 developer had touted FM25 as a significant technological and visual leap, aiming for "the biggest technical and visual advancement for the series in a generation." However, the transition to the Unity game engine presented unforeseen challenges, particularly impacting the player experience and user interface.
Sega Sammy Holdings' recent financial results reflect a writedown of FM25-related costs. Sports Interactive, in a blog post, explained that the cancellation followed extensive internal discussions and careful consideration with Sega. Sega has confirmed to IGN that no job losses are associated with this decision.
There will be no Football Manager 24 update incorporating 2024/25 season data. Sports Interactive stated that diverting resources to such an update would compromise the development of the next iteration. Discussions are underway with platform holders and licensors regarding potential extensions of FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.
The cancellation follows two previous delays, the last pushing the release to March 2025. Sports Interactive is now fully committed to Football Manager 26, anticipated for its usual November release window. Refunds are being offered to those who pre-ordered FM25.
The developer apologized for the delay in announcing the cancellation, citing stakeholder compliance and regulatory requirements. They emphasized their commitment to delivering high-quality games and acknowledged that FM25, despite significant effort, didn't meet their standards in key areas, primarily the player experience and interface. Internal evaluations and consumer playtesting confirmed the need for further development. Releasing a subpar game was deemed unacceptable, particularly given the late stage of the football season.
All efforts are now focused on ensuring Football Manager 26 meets the expected quality. Further updates on the game's progress will be provided in due course.
