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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 missed an annual release since its inception in 2004. This challenging move comes after significant development hurdles.
Sports Interactive had ambitiously described FM25 as "the biggest technical and visual advancement for the series in a generation." However, transitioning to the Unity game engine proved problematic, particularly impacting the player experience and interface.
The cancellation was announced during Sega Sammy Holdings' latest financial results, which included a writedown of costs linked to the game. After "extensive internal discussion and careful consideration" with parent company Sega, the decision was finalized. Sega has confirmed to IGN that no roles are affected by this news.
Sports Interactive clarified that there will be no Football Manager 24 update with 2024/25 season data, as it "would divert critical resources away from the development of the next release which requires our full focus." The developer is currently negotiating with platform holders and licensors about extending FM24's availability on subscription services like Game Pass.
FM25 had already faced two delays before its eventual cancellation, with the latest postponement to March 2025. Sports Interactive is now directing its efforts towards Football Manager 26, slated for release in the customary November window.
In a heartfelt message to fans, Sports Interactive expressed regret to those who had pre-ordered FM25, stating, "For the large numbers of you who pre-ordered FM25, we thank you enormously for your trust and support – we’re very sorry to have let you down." Refunds are being offered to affected customers.
The studio acknowledged the disappointment this news brings, especially after multiple delays and the anticipation surrounding the first gameplay reveal. "We can only apologise for the time it has taken to communicate this decision. Due to stakeholder compliance, including legal and financial regulations, today was the earliest date that we could issue this statement."
Sports Interactive has always aimed to deliver games that offer exceptional value and enjoyment. With FM25, they set out to create a significant leap forward for the series, laying the foundation for a new era. However, despite the team's efforts, the game did not meet the desired standards in critical areas, particularly the player experience and interface. Extensive evaluation, including consumer playtesting, validated the new direction but highlighted that the game was still too far from the quality level fans deserve.
The developer faced the choice of releasing FM25 in its current state with future fixes or canceling it outright. Opting for the latter, they explained, "We could have pressed on, released FM25 in its current state, and fixed things down the line - but that’s not the right thing to do. We were also unwilling to go beyond a March release as it would be too late in the football season to expect players to then buy another game later in the year."
With the cancellation, all resources are now being funneled into ensuring the next release, Football Manager 26, meets their ambitious goals and the high standards expected by the community. Sports Interactive promised to keep fans updated on their progress as soon as possible.
In closing, the team expressed gratitude for the patience and continued support of their fans, emphasizing their commitment to ushering in a new era for Football Manager.
