Sega and Sports Interactive have announced the cancellation of Football Manager 25 across all platforms following significant development challenges. This marks the first complete year the long-running sports simulation series has missed since its 2004 debut.
UK-based developer Sports Interactive previously described FM25 as representing "the most substantial technical and visual leap for the franchise in a generation." However, difficulties transitioning to the Unity game engine proved problematic, particularly regarding player experience and interface elements.
The revelation came alongside Sega Sammy Holdings' latest financial report, which included cost write-downs related to the project. Sports Interactive explained in a developer blog that the decision followed "thorough internal discussions and careful deliberation" with parent company Sega. IGN confirmed with Sega that no jobs will be affected by this announcement.
The developer confirmed no Football Manager 24 seasonal update will be released, as this "would redirect crucial resources from the next installment's development." Currently, discussions are underway regarding potential extensions for FM24 availability on subscription platforms like Game Pass.
FM25 had already experienced two delays prior to cancellation, with its most recent postponement pushing the launch to March 2025. Development focus has now shifted entirely to Football Manager 26, targeting the series' traditional November release window.
"To our dedicated community who pre-ordered FM25, we express our deepest gratitude and sincere apologies," stated Sports Interactive. The company is processing refunds for all pre-orders.
"We recognize this news will disappoint many, especially following previous delays and anticipation building for gameplay reveals. Regulatory constraints prevented us from communicating this decision earlier," the statement continued.
"Our commitment remains delivering exceptional value through engaging gameplay experiences. FM25 represented our ambition to establish new technical benchmarks for the franchise.
"Despite overcoming numerous documented challenges and countless unforeseen obstacles, certain aspects fell short of our standards, despite our team's extraordinary efforts. Delays were intended to bridge these gaps, but recent evaluations confirmed we couldn't meet expectations.
"While many components met our targets, core player experience elements didn't satisfy our requirements. Playtesting validated our new direction's potential but revealed we weren't sufficiently polished.
"Releasing FM25 in its current state would have been unacceptable. Extending beyond March would also prove impractical within football's seasonal calendar.
"Cancellation allows complete focus on delivering Football Manager 26 to our exacting standards. We'll share development progress when possible.
"We appreciate your understanding and loyalty as we dedicate ourselves to shaping Football Manager's future."
