Football Manager 25 Cancellation: Dev Issues Apology to Disappointed Fans

Sega and Sports Interactive have made the tough decision to cancel Football Manager 25 across all platforms, marking the first time the beloved sports simulation series has skipped a year since its inception in 2004. The announcement, which came as part of Sega Sammy Holdings’ latest financial results, was a result of significant challenges faced during development.

Sports Interactive had high hopes for FM25, describing it as "the biggest technical and visual advancement for the series in a generation." However, the transition to the Unity game engine proved more challenging than anticipated, particularly with the player experience and interface. After extensive internal discussions and careful consideration with parent company Sega, the decision was made to cancel the game. Sega has confirmed to IGN that no roles are affected by this decision.

In a blog post to fans, Sports Interactive explained that there won't be any update for Football Manager 24 with the 2024/25 season data, as it would divert essential resources away from the development of the next release, which now requires their full focus. The developer is currently negotiating with platform holders and licensors about extending FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.

FM25 had already faced two delays before its cancellation, with the latest delay pushing the release to March 2025. Sports Interactive has now shifted its focus to Football Manager 26, expected to launch in the traditional November slot.

For those who pre-ordered FM25, Sports Interactive expressed deep gratitude for the trust and support, alongside sincere apologies for the letdown. Refunds are being offered to those affected.

The developer acknowledged the disappointment this news would bring, especially after multiple delays and the anticipation for the first gameplay reveal. They apologized for the delay in communicating the decision, citing stakeholder compliance, including legal and financial regulations, as the reason for the timing of the announcement.

Sports Interactive emphasized their commitment to delivering high-value games that offer countless hours of enjoyment. With FM25, they aimed to create a significant technical and visual leap for the series, setting the stage for a new era. Despite the team's efforts, unforeseen challenges meant they couldn't meet their goals in key areas of the game, particularly the player experience and interface. Consumer playtesting validated the new direction, but the game was still too far from the desired standard.

The decision to cancel was made to avoid releasing a substandard product and promising fixes post-launch, which they deemed not the right approach. A release beyond March would have been too late in the football season to expect players to purchase another game later in the year.

With the cancellation, Sports Interactive is now fully focused on ensuring the next release meets their high standards and achieves the quality level fans expect. They promised to keep fans updated on their progress as soon as possible.

Sports Interactive concluded by thanking fans for their patience and continued support, reaffirming their dedication to ushering in a new era for Football Manager.