The much-anticipated Football Manager 2025 (FM25) will not be released, as Sports Interactive (SI) has officially announced the cancellation of this year’s edition. The decision follows two previous delays, with the initial launch window of November 2024 being pushed back to March 2025. However, due to a variety of challenges, SI determined that the game did not meet their target for a generational leap in quality.
After extensive discussions with SEGA, the decision was made to cancel FM25 entirely and shift focus to the next release. The announcement comes as a disappointment to millions of fans, especially given the franchise’s long-standing tradition of delivering annual releases since 2005.
Why Was Football Manager 2025 Cancelled?
Aiming for a Generational Improvement
Sports Interactive had ambitious goals for Football Manager 2025, aiming to revolutionize the franchise with major technical and visual advancements. The game was expected to set the foundation for a new era, but according to the developers, the final product did not meet expectations.
Despite delays and additional development time, the team struggled to refine the overall player experience and interface. While some aspects of FM25 met internal targets, key elements fell short of the standards required.
Consumer Playtesting & Quality Concerns
Extensive evaluation and consumer playtesting further validated SI’s concerns. While testers provided positive feedback on certain improvements, the overall experience was not up to the expected level.
Rather than releasing an incomplete product and fixing it later through patches, SI chose to cancel the game outright.
Official Statement from Sports Interactive
The Difficult Decision to Cancel FM25
In a detailed statement, Sports Interactive addressed the Football Manager community, explaining the reasons behind the decision and offering an apology to fans:
“Sports Interactive regret to inform that, following extensive internal discussion and careful consideration with SEGA, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Football Manager 25 and shift our focus to the next release.
For the large numbers of you who pre-ordered FM25, we thank you enormously for your trust and support – we’re very sorry to have let you down.
We know this will come as a huge disappointment, especially given that the release date had already moved twice, and you have been eagerly anticipating the first gameplay reveal. We can only apologize for the time it has taken to communicate this decision. Due to stakeholder compliance, including legal and financial regulations, today was the earliest date we could issue this statement.”
Why Sports Interactive Chose to Cancel FM25
The studio went on to explain their commitment to quality and the reasoning behind their decision:
“We have always prided ourselves on delivering the best value for money games that bring you countless hours of enjoyment, that feel worth every moment and every penny you spend.
With the launch of FM25, we set out to create the biggest technical and visual advancement in the series for a generation. However, due to a variety of challenges, both known and unforeseen, we haven’t achieved what we set out to do in enough areas of the game.
Each decision to delay the release was made with the aim of getting the game closer to the desired level. But as we approached critical milestones at the turn of the year, it became unmistakably clear that we would not achieve the standard required, even with the adjusted timeline.”
What Went Wrong with Football Manager 2025?
Unfinished Features & Development Struggles
SI acknowledged that while many aspects of FM25 hit internal targets, the overarching player experience and user interface fell short.
“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 still too far away from the standards you deserve.
We could have pressed on and released FM25 in its current state, fixing things down the line – but that’s not the right thing to do. We were also unwilling to go beyond a March release, as it would be too late in the football season to expect players to then buy another game later in the year.”
This statement highlights that SI considered delivering FM25 as planned, but ultimately, they chose to prioritize long-term quality over short-term fixes.
What Happens Next for Football Manager?
Focus Shifts to the Next Football Manager Release
With FM25 cancelled, SI’s focus now shifts to the next game in the franchise. The studio reassured fans that they remain committed to delivering a new era for Football Manager:
“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 as soon as we are able to do so.
Thank you for reading, your patience, and your continued support. Our full focus now returns to creating a new era for Football Manager.”
What About Football Manager 2026?
With FM25 no longer happening, attention now turns to Football Manager 2026 (FM26). While SI has not provided an official release window, it is expected that FM26 will launch in late 2025.
Fans will be eager to see whether the extra development time allows SI to deliver on their ambitious vision and introduce the game-changing features they originally planned for FM25.
Final Thoughts: A Tough but Necessary Decision
The Football Manager community will undoubtedly be disappointed by the cancellation of FM25, especially after two previous delays. However, Sports Interactive’s commitment to quality is commendable, as they chose not to release an unfinished product just to meet a deadline.
By shifting all efforts toward the next release, SI is ensuring that when the next Football Manager game finally arrives, it will be worthy of the franchise’s legacy.
For now, Football Manager 2024 (FM24) remains the latest edition in the series, and fans will have to wait patiently for more news on the future of the franchise.
