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 long-running series has skipped a year since its inception in 2004. The decision follows significant challenges encountered during development, primarily related to the transition to the Unity game engine. The resulting player experience and interface did not meet the developers' high standards, despite extensive efforts and multiple delays.

The developer, Sports Interactive, had previously touted FM25 as a "generational leap" in terms of technical and visual advancements. However, internal evaluations and playtesting revealed that the game fell short of expectations in key areas, particularly the overall player experience and interface. Releasing the game in its current state was deemed unacceptable, and pushing the release beyond March 2025 was considered too late in the football season for a new game launch.

Sega Sammy Holdings' recent financial results reflect the costs associated with the game's cancellation. Sports Interactive assures fans that no job losses resulted from this decision. Refunds are being offered to those who pre-ordered FM25. There will be no FM24 update with 2024/25 season data; resources are fully dedicated to Football Manager 26, slated for release in November. Discussions are underway with platform holders and licensors regarding extending FM24 agreements on subscription services. The developer emphasizes its commitment to delivering high-quality games and is now fully focused on ensuring FM26 meets the expected standards.