Football Manager 25 Canceled: Dev Issues Apology to 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 missed a yearly release since its inception in 2004. This cancellation comes after a challenging development period, particularly with the transition to the Unity game engine, which has caused significant issues with the player experience and interface.

The news was shared as part of Sega Sammy Holdings' latest financial results, which also included a writedown of costs related to the game. Sports Interactive, after "extensive internal discussion and careful consideration" with parent company Sega, announced the decision in a heartfelt blog post to fans. Sega has confirmed to IGN that no jobs will be affected by this decision.

Sports Interactive has also confirmed that there will be no Football Manager 24 update with the 2024/25 season data, as it would detract from the resources needed for the next release. The developer is currently negotiating with platform holders and licensors to possibly extend the FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.

FM25 had already faced two delays, with the most recent pushing the release to March 2025. Now, Sports Interactive is shifting its focus to Football Manager 26, which is slated for a November release as usual.

In their message to fans, Sports Interactive expressed deep regret to those who had pre-ordered FM25, offering refunds and apologizing for the disappointment. They acknowledged the anticipation for the game, especially after multiple delays, and explained that due to legal and financial regulations, they could not share this news earlier.

The team had aimed to make FM25 the most significant technical and visual leap in the series' history, setting the stage for a new era. However, despite the team's efforts, they faced numerous challenges, both anticipated and unforeseen, which prevented them from reaching their goals in key areas of the game. Extensive consumer playtesting validated the new direction but also highlighted that the player experience and interface were not up to the required standard.

Sports Interactive could have released FM25 in its current state and fixed issues post-launch, but they felt that was not the right approach. They were also unwilling to delay the game beyond March, as it would be too late in the football season for players to then purchase another game later in the year.

With the cancellation of FM25, the team's full attention is now on ensuring that Football Manager 26 meets their high standards and delivers the quality that fans expect. They promised to keep fans updated on their progress and thanked them for their patience and continued support, emphasizing their commitment to creating a new era for Football Manager.