Sega and Sports Interactive have made the difficult decision to cancel Football Manager 25 across all platforms. This marks the first time the long-running series has skipped a year since its 2004 debut.
The developer, Sports Interactive, had previously touted FM25 as a significant technological and visual leap. However, the transition to the Unity game engine presented unforeseen challenges, particularly impacting the player experience and user interface.
The cancellation was announced alongside Sega Sammy Holdings' financial results, which reflect a write-down of FM25-related costs. Sports Interactive explained in a blog post that the decision followed extensive internal discussions and careful consideration with Sega. Sega has confirmed to IGN that no job losses are associated with this announcement.
There will be no Football Manager 24 update with 2024/25 season data. Sports Interactive stated that allocating resources to such an update would detract from the development of the next game. Discussions are underway with platform holders and licensors regarding potential extensions of FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.
FM25 faced two prior delays before its ultimate cancellation, with the most recent target date set for March 2025. Development efforts are now fully concentrated on Football Manager 26, anticipated for release in November as usual.
Sports Interactive apologized to those who pre-ordered FM25, offering full refunds. The delay in announcing the cancellation was attributed to stakeholder compliance and regulatory requirements.
The developer emphasized its commitment to delivering high-quality games, explaining that despite progress in certain areas, the overall player experience and interface did not meet their standards. They opted against a compromised release, citing the late-season launch as detrimental to player engagement.
The focus is now entirely on Football Manager 26, aiming to deliver a game that meets the expected quality. Further updates on the progress of FM26 will be shared as they become available.
