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 2004 debut. 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, issues with the player experience and interface proved insurmountable.
The announcement, part of Sega Sammy Holdings' financial results, includes a writedown of associated costs. Sports Interactive clarified in a blog post that the decision was made after extensive internal discussions with Sega, and that no job losses will result. Furthermore, 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 services like Game Pass.
FM25 faced two prior delays before its ultimate cancellation, with the last projected release date set for March 2025. The developer is now concentrating efforts on Football Manager 26, anticipated for the 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 dictated the timing of the announcement. The company emphasized its commitment to delivering high-quality games and stated that, despite progress in several areas, the overall player experience and interface did not meet their standards. Releasing a subpar game was deemed unacceptable, and pushing the release beyond March was considered too late in the football season for a viable product launch.
The focus is now entirely on Football Manager 26, aiming to deliver the expected quality and usher in a new era for the franchise. Further updates on the development progress will be shared as they become available.
