Sega and Sports Interactive 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 UK-based developer had touted FM25 as a generational leap in technical and visual advancements, but difficulties transitioning to the Unity game engine, particularly impacting the player experience and interface, proved insurmountable.
The announcement, part of Sega Sammy Holdings’ financial results, includes a writedown of associated costs. Sports Interactive explained in a blog post that the decision followed extensive internal discussions and careful consideration with Sega. Sega has confirmed that no job losses will result.
There will be no Football Manager 24 update with 2024/25 season data, as resources are fully dedicated to the next iteration. Discussions are underway with platform holders and licensors regarding extending FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.
FM25 had already faced two delays before its cancellation, the last pushing the release to March 2025. Sports Interactive is now concentrating on Football Manager 26, anticipated for the usual November release window. Refunds are being offered to those who pre-ordered FM25.
The developers apologized for the delay in communicating the cancellation, citing stakeholder compliance and legal/financial regulations. They emphasized their commitment to delivering high-value games and acknowledged falling short of their ambitious goals for FM25 despite significant team effort. While some aspects met expectations, the overall player experience and interface did not reach the required standard, a conclusion supported by consumer playtesting.
The decision to cancel, rather than release a subpar product and issue later patches, was made to avoid compromising the quality players expect. Releasing in March was deemed too late in the football season for a new game launch. All efforts are now focused on ensuring Football Manager 26 meets the desired quality. Further updates on FM26's progress will be shared as they become available.
