Football Manager 25 Canceled: Dev Issues Apology to Fans

In a surprising move, Sega and Sports Interactive have announced the cancellation of Football Manager 25 across all platforms, marking the first time the popular sports simulation series has missed a yearly release since its inception in 2004. This decision comes after a challenging development process, particularly with the transition to the Unity game engine, which has led to significant issues with the player experience and interface.

The news was revealed as part of Sega Sammy Holdings' latest financial results, which also included a writedown of costs associated with the game. After "extensive internal discussion and careful consideration," Sports Interactive, in collaboration with parent company Sega, decided to cancel the game. Sega has confirmed to IGN that no roles were affected by this decision.

Sports Interactive has also confirmed 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 to potentially extend its FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.

Football Manager 25 had already faced two delays, with the latest scheduled release pushed to March 2025. Now, Sports Interactive is focusing on Football Manager 26, which is slated for a traditional November release.

In a heartfelt message to fans, Sports Interactive expressed deep regret to those who pre-ordered FM25, offering refunds and apologizing for the delays and the time taken to announce the cancellation. The developer emphasized its commitment to delivering high-quality games that provide value and enjoyment, explaining that FM25 was intended to be a significant technical and visual leap for the series.

Despite the team's efforts, Sports Interactive acknowledged that the game did not meet their standards in critical areas, particularly the player experience and interface. Extensive evaluations and consumer playtesting confirmed the new direction but highlighted that the game was not yet ready to meet player expectations. Rather than releasing an unfinished product or further delaying beyond March, which would be too late in the football season, the decision was made to cancel FM25.

The focus now shifts entirely to Football Manager 26, with Sports Interactive promising to keep fans updated on their progress. The developer expressed gratitude for the patience and continued support of the community, reaffirming their dedication to ushering in a new era for the Football Manager series.