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 2004 debut. The decision follows significant challenges encountered during development, primarily related to the transition to the Unity game engine. The resulting player experience and interface fell short of the studio's high standards.
Initially touted as a "generation-defining" technical and visual leap, the game faced multiple delays before its ultimate cancellation. Sports Interactive cited issues with the overall player experience and interface as the primary reasons for the cancellation, despite progress in other areas. Extensive internal reviews and playtesting confirmed that the game wasn't ready for release.
The announcement, included in Sega Sammy Holdings' financial results, involves a writedown of associated costs. However, Sega has confirmed that no job losses will result from this decision. There will be no Football Manager 24 update with 2024/25 season data, as resources are fully dedicated to Football Manager 26. Discussions are underway with platform holders and licensors to potentially extend FM24 agreements on subscription services.
Pre-orders for FM25 will be refunded. Sports Interactive apologized for the delay in announcing the cancellation, citing stakeholder compliance requirements, and emphasized their commitment to delivering high-quality games. They are now fully focused on Football Manager 26, aiming for a November release. The developer stressed that releasing FM25 in its incomplete state wasn't an option, and a post-March release would have been too late in the football season.
