Football Manager 25 Canceled: Dev Issues Apology to Fans

Sega and UK-based developer Sports Interactive have made the tough decision to cancel Football Manager 25 across all platforms, marking the first time since its inception in 2004 that the beloved sports simulation series will skip a year. The decision comes after a challenging development cycle, particularly in transitioning to the Unity game engine, which has affected the player experience and interface.

The announcement was part of Sega Sammy Holdings’ latest financial results, which included a writedown of costs related to the game. Sports Interactive emphasized that the cancellation followed “extensive internal discussion and careful consideration” with parent company Sega. Sega has confirmed to IGN that no job roles will be affected by this decision.

Sports Interactive also announced that there will be no update for Football Manager 24 with the 2024/25 season data, as it would divert essential resources from the development of future releases. The developer is currently negotiating with platform holders and licensors to potentially extend FM24's availability on subscription services like Game Pass.

FM25 had already faced two delays, with the latest pushing its release to March 2025. However, the project has now been officially canceled, and Sports Interactive is shifting its focus to Football Manager 26, slated for release in the traditional November slot.

Addressing the fans who had pre-ordered FM25, Sports Interactive expressed deep regret for the letdown and confirmed that refunds are available. They acknowledged the disappointment, especially given the delays and anticipation for the first gameplay reveal, and apologized for the delay in communicating this decision, citing stakeholder compliance, legal, and financial regulations as reasons for the timing.

The developer had aimed to make FM25 the most significant technical and visual leap in the series for a generation, setting the stage for a new era. However, despite the team's efforts, the game did not meet the desired standards in crucial areas, particularly the player experience and interface. Consumer playtesting validated the new direction but also highlighted that the game was not yet at the level fans deserved.

Rather than releasing FM25 in its current state and fixing issues post-launch, or delaying it beyond March, which would be too late in the football season, Sports Interactive chose cancellation. The focus is now on ensuring that the next release, Football Manager 26, meets the high-quality standards expected by fans and delivers the new era promised for the series.

Sports Interactive thanked fans for their patience and continued support, promising updates on the progress of the next release as soon as possible.