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 announcement, part of Sega Sammy Holdings' financial results, includes a writedown of associated costs. Sports Interactive stated in a blog post that the decision was reached after extensive internal discussions with Sega, and that no job losses will result. There will be no Football Manager 24 update with 2024/25 season data, as resources are fully dedicated to the next iteration. Discussions are underway with platform holders and licensors regarding potential extensions of FM24 agreements on subscription services.
FM25 faced two prior delays before its ultimate cancellation, with the last projected release date set for March 2025. Development has now shifted to 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 explained that stakeholder compliance and regulatory requirements delayed the announcement. The developers emphasized their commitment to delivering high-quality games and stated that, despite progress in some 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 was deemed unacceptable, as was delaying the release further into the football season.
The company's full focus is now on Football Manager 26, aiming to deliver a game that meets the expected quality. Further updates on the development progress will be provided as they become available.
