Major Update on Football Manager 2025

In a surprising move, Sega and Sports Interactive have announced the cancellation of Football Manager 25 (FM25), one of the most anticipated entries in the long-running football simulation series. The decision revealed as part of Sega’s latest financial results, comes after multiple delays and mounting challenges in the game’s development.

The announcement was made via Football Manager’s official social media channels, accompanied by a detailed statement from Sports Interactive. The studio expressed regret over the cancellation and apologized to fans who had pre-ordered the game, promising automatic refunds.

The statement read:

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.

The studio acknowledged the disappointment this would cause, especially given the delays FM25 had already faced. Initially scheduled for release in 2024, the game had been postponed twice, with its most recent timeline placing it awkwardly in the middle of the football season. This would have forced Sports Interactive to sell two games—FM25 and the expected FM26—within the same calendar year, a scenario the studio deemed unfeasible.

Sports Interactive cited a combination of technical, creative, and logistical challenges as the primary reasons for the cancellation. Despite significant progress in some areas, the studio admitted that the overall player experience and interface were not up to the standards fans expected.

Despite the setback, Sports Interactive remains optimistic about the future of the Football Manager series. The studio emphasized that the cancellation of Football Manager 25 allows them to fully focus on their next release, which they aim to make a groundbreaking entry in the franchise.