Football Manager 25 Canceled, Dev Apologizes for Letting Fans Down

Sega and Sports Interactive 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 developers had ambitious plans for FM25, aiming for "the biggest technical and visual advancement in a generation." However, the transition to the Unity game engine presented significant challenges, particularly impacting the player experience and user interface.

The cancellation was announced alongside Sega Sammy Holdings' financial results, which reflect the associated costs. Sports Interactive explained in a blog post that the decision followed extensive internal discussions and careful consideration with Sega. Sega has confirmed that no job losses will result from this decision.

There will be no Football Manager 24 update with 2024/25 season data. The developers stated that allocating resources to such an update would detract from the crucial work on the next iteration of the game. 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, with the most recent target date set for March 2025. Development efforts are now fully concentrated on Football Manager 26, anticipated for release in November as usual. 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 for the game's reveal. They apologized for the delayed announcement, citing stakeholder compliance and regulatory requirements.

The developers emphasized their commitment to delivering high-quality games offering exceptional value. While progress was made in several areas, the overall player experience and interface fell short of their standards, a conclusion supported by extensive internal evaluation and consumer playtesting. Releasing FM25 in its current state was deemed unacceptable, and a post-March release was considered too late in the football season.

The team's full attention is now dedicated to ensuring Football Manager 26 meets the expected quality. Further updates on the game's progress will be provided as they become available.