Football Manager 25 Canceled: Dev Issues Apology to Fans

Sega and Sports Interactive have made the difficult decision to cancel Football Manager 25 across all platforms, marking the first time in the series' history since its inception in 2004 that a yearly release has been skipped. The UK-based developer, Sports Interactive, had promised that FM25 would be a significant leap forward in terms of technical and visual enhancements. However, the transition to the Unity game engine proved challenging, particularly with the player experience and interface.

The cancellation was announced alongside Sega Sammy Holdings’ latest financial results, which included a writedown of costs related to the game. Sports Interactive emphasized that the decision followed “extensive internal discussion and careful consideration” with their parent company, Sega. IGN confirmed that no roles at the company were affected by this news.

Sports Interactive also announced that there will be no update for Football Manager 24 with the 2024/25 season data, as it would detract from the development of future releases. The developer is currently negotiating with platform holders and licensors about possibly extending the FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.

FM25 had already been delayed twice, with the latest delay pushing the release to March 2025. With the cancellation, Sports Interactive is now focusing on Football Manager 26, which is slated for a November release.

In a heartfelt message to fans who pre-ordered FM25, Sports Interactive expressed deep regret and appreciation for their support, offering refunds to all affected customers. The developer acknowledged the disappointment, especially after multiple delays and the anticipation surrounding the first gameplay reveal. They explained that due to legal and financial regulations, the announcement couldn't be made any earlier.

Sports Interactive reiterated their commitment to delivering high-quality games that provide exceptional value and enjoyment. They had aimed for FM25 to be a groundbreaking release, setting the stage for a new era in the series. However, numerous challenges, both anticipated and unforeseen, prevented them from reaching their goals across various aspects of the game. Despite efforts to delay and refine the game, critical evaluations, including consumer playtesting, showed that the player experience and interface did not meet the required standards.

The team chose not to release FM25 in its current state, believing it was not the right approach to fix issues post-launch. They also felt that delaying beyond March would be too late in the football season to justify another release later in the year. With the cancellation, all efforts are now directed toward ensuring the next release, Football Manager 26, meets the high standards expected by fans.

Sports Interactive thanked their fans for their patience and ongoing support, promising to update them on the progress of the next release as soon as possible. Their focus is now firmly on creating a new era for Football Manager.