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 inception in 2004. The decision follows a challenging development process involving a significant transition to the Unity game engine.
While initially touted as a generational leap in visuals and technology, the move to Unity presented unexpected hurdles, particularly impacting the player experience and user interface. The announcement was made alongside Sega Sammy Holdings' financial results, which reflect the costs associated with the game's development. Sega has confirmed that no job losses are connected to this decision.
Sports Interactive clarified in a blog post that there will be no Football Manager 24 update incorporating 2024/25 season data. This prioritizes the development of the next iteration. Discussions are underway with platform holders and licensors to potentially extend FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.
FM25 faced two prior delays before its ultimate cancellation, with the most recent target set for March 2025. The developer is now fully committed to Football Manager 26, anticipated for its usual November release. 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. The company emphasized its commitment to delivering high-quality games and explained that, despite progress in certain areas, the overall player experience and interface did not meet their standards. Extensive internal testing and consumer feedback confirmed this assessment. Releasing a subpar product or delaying further into the football season was deemed unacceptable.
The developer assures fans that all efforts are now focused on ensuring Football Manager 26 meets the expected quality. Further updates on the game's progress will be provided as they become available.
