Football Manager 25 Canceled, Dev Apologizes for Letting Fans Down

Sports Interactive and Sega have announced the cancellation of Football Manager 25 across all platforms. This marks the first time the series has skipped a year since its inception in 2004, a decision attributed to significant development challenges.

The developers had initially touted FM25 as a generational leap in technical and visual advancements, driven by a transition to the Unity game engine. However, this transition proved problematic, particularly impacting the player experience and user interface. The announcement, part of Sega Sammy Holdings' financial results, includes a writedown of associated costs. Sega has confirmed that no job losses resulted from this decision.

A blog post to fans explained the cancellation followed extensive internal discussions and careful consideration. There will be no FM24 update with 2024/25 season data, as resources are fully dedicated to the next iteration. Discussions are underway with platform holders and licensors to potentially extend FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.

The cancellation follows two previous delays, the last pushing the release to March 2025. Sports Interactive is now concentrating on Football Manager 26, anticipated for its usual November release window. Refunds are being offered to those who pre-ordered FM25.

The developers acknowledged the disappointment caused by the cancellation, particularly given the delays and anticipation. They emphasized their commitment to delivering high-quality games and explained that, despite progress in some areas, the overall player experience and interface did not meet their standards, a conclusion supported by extensive internal testing and consumer feedback. Releasing a subpar game, or delaying further into the football season, was deemed unacceptable. The team's full focus is now on ensuring FM26 meets expectations.