Sega and Sports Interactive have made the difficult decision to cancel Football Manager 25 across all platforms. This marks the first time the iconic sports simulation series has missed a yearly release since its inception in 2004.
The UK-based developer, Sports Interactive, had initially billed FM25 as "the biggest technical and visual advancement for the series in a generation." However, the transition to the Unity game engine proved challenging, particularly with issues related to the player experience and interface.
The cancellation was announced alongside Sega Sammy Holdings’ recent financial results, which included a writedown of costs related to the game. In a blog post to fans, Sports Interactive explained that the decision followed "extensive internal discussion and careful consideration" with their parent company, Sega. Sega confirmed to IGN that no job roles were affected by this decision.
Sports Interactive also 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 studio is currently negotiating with platform holders and licensors to potentially extend the FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.
Football Manager 25 is canceled. Image credit: Sports Interactive / Sega.
FM25 had faced two delays prior to its cancellation, with the latest scheduled for March 2025. Sports Interactive has now shifted its focus to Football Manager 26, expected to launch in the usual November window.
In their statement, Sports Interactive expressed deep regret to fans who had pre-ordered FM25, thanking them for their trust and support while offering refunds. "We know this will come as a huge disappointment, especially given that the release date has already moved twice, and you have been eagerly anticipating the first gameplay reveal. We can only apologize 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."
The studio emphasized their commitment to delivering high-quality, value-for-money games. "We have always prided ourselves on delivering the best value for money games that bring you countless hours of enjoyment, that feel worth every moment and every penny you spend. With the launch of FM25, we set out to create the biggest technical and visual advancement in the series for a generation, laying the building blocks for a new era."
Despite their efforts, Sports Interactive faced numerous challenges. "Due to a variety of challenges that we’ve been open about to date, and many more unforeseen, we currently haven’t achieved what we set out to do in enough areas of the game, despite the phenomenal efforts of our team. Each decision to delay the release was made with the aim of getting the game closer to the desired level but, as we approached critical milestones at the turn of the year, it became unmistakably clear that we would not achieve the standard required, even with the adjusted timeline."
The overarching player experience and interface were identified as the main areas not meeting expectations. "As extensive evaluation has demonstrated, including consumer playtesting, we have clear validation for the new direction of the game and are getting close – however, we’re too far away from the standards you deserve."
Sports Interactive considered releasing FM25 in its current state and fixing issues post-launch but deemed it inappropriate. "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 of FM25, the studio's full attention is now on ensuring that Football Manager 26 meets their high standards and delivers the quality fans expect. "Through the cancellation, every effort is now focused on ensuring that our next release achieves our goal and hits the quality level we all expect. We will update you on how we are progressing with that as soon as we are able to do so."
Sports Interactive concluded by thanking fans for their patience and continued support, reaffirming their commitment to ushering in a new era for the Football Manager series.
