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 a challenging development process involving a significant transition to the Unity game engine.
Initially touted as a generational leap in visuals and technology, the move to Unity presented unforeseen difficulties, primarily impacting the user interface and overall player experience. This led to two prior delays before the ultimate cancellation. The announcement coincided with Sega Sammy Holdings' financial report, which reflects the associated costs. Sega has confirmed that no job losses resulted from this decision.
There will be no Football Manager 24 update incorporating 2024/25 season data, as resources are fully dedicated to the next iteration. Sports Interactive is currently negotiating with platform holders and licensors to potentially extend FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.
The developers expressed sincere apologies to those who pre-ordered FM25, offering full refunds. They emphasized their commitment to delivering high-quality games and explained that, despite progress in many areas, the core gameplay and interface didn't meet their standards, a conclusion supported by extensive internal testing and consumer feedback. Releasing a subpar product or delaying further into the football season was deemed unacceptable.
Development is now fully concentrated on Football Manager 26, targeted for the usual November release window. The team aims to build upon the lessons learned and deliver a game that meets player expectations.
