In a surprising turn of events, SEGA CORPORATION and Sports Interactive have announced the cancellation of Football Manager 2025 on all platforms. After extensive discussions and careful consideration, the decision was made to ensure the quality of the series’ next installment.
The development team had been working on revamping the user interface, graphics, and adding new features to achieve significant evolution in the series. However, it became clear that more time was needed to meet the high standards expected by fans. As a result, the release of Football Manager 2025 has been canceled, and efforts will now focus on developing the next installment using the existing development assets.
The Football Manager series, developed by SEGA and the UK-based company Sports Interactive, offers an unparalleled simulation experience. Players can manage their favorite clubs, ranging from local semi-professional teams to world-renowned powerhouses, and lead them to new heights of success.
In a message from Sports Interactive, the team expressed their regret over the cancellation and thanked fans for their trust and support. “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,” they stated. They acknowledged the disappointment this news would bring, especially given the anticipation for the first gameplay reveal. “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. We can only apologise for the time it has taken to communicate this decision.”
The team had set out to create the biggest technical and visual advancement in the series for a generation, laying the foundation for a new era. However, various challenges and unforeseen issues prevented them from achieving their goals in enough areas of the game. Despite the phenomenal efforts of the team, it became clear that the desired standard would not be met, even with an adjusted timeline. “Due to a variety of challenges that we’ve been open about to date, and many more unforeseen, we currently haven’t achieved what we set out to do in enough areas of the game, despite the phenomenal efforts of our team,” they explained.
While many areas of the game hit their targets, the overall player experience and interface were not where they needed to be. Extensive evaluation, including consumer playtesting, validated the new direction of the game, but it was still too far from the standards fans deserve. “Whilst many areas of the game have hit our targets, the overarching player experience and interface is not where we need it to be,” the statement read. “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.”
For those who pre-ordered a digital copy of Football Manager 2025, refunds are available. Please consult your platform’s store policy for details on how to proceed. For more information regarding this cancellation, you can read the official statement from Sports Interactive and SEGA.
