The Football Manager series has been having a tough time over the last few years. While previous entries in the series faced multiple delays, it looks like things went really badly with the upcoming one. Sports Interactive and Sega have announced that Football Manager 25 has officially been cancelled.
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The now cancelled title was already delayed twice, but it seems that the developer just could not get over the hurdles. With FM25 cancelled, Sports Interactive will now shift its focus towards Football Manager 26. This will be the first time in its 20-year history that Football Manager will skip an entry.
FM25 Cancelled As Team Shifts Focus To FM26
“We know this will come as a huge disappointment, especially given that the release date has already moved twice, and you have been eagerly anticipating the first gameplay reveal,” said a blog post. “We can only apologise for the time it has taken to communicate this decision. Due to stakeholder compliance, including legal and financial regulations, today was the earliest date that we could issue this statement.”
The statement went on to explain that “the overarching player experience and interface is not where we need it to be. As extensive evaluation has demonstrated, including consumer playtesting, we have clear validation for the new direction of the game and are getting close – however, we’re too far away from the standards you deserve.”
Those who’ve pre-ordered Football Manager 25, will receive automatic refunds.
There were also some FAQs along with the statement that stated that FM24 would not be updated with 2024/25 season data as it would divert resources away from the next title. The team is also in discussions with platform partners and licensors to extend agreements for FM24, but there is no concrete word on that yet.
“Through the cancellation, every effort is now focused on ensuring that our next release achieves our goal and hits the quality level we all expect. We will update you on how we are progressing with that as soon as we are able to do so,” concluded the statement. “Thank you for reading, your patience and your continued support. Our full focus now returns to creating a new era for Football Manager.”
Simulation
Strategy
Sports
- Released
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March, 2025
- ESRB
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E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
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Sports Interactive