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 inception in 2004. The decision follows significant challenges encountered during development, primarily related to the transition to the Unity game engine. The developers aimed for a "generational leap" in visuals and technology, but ultimately fell short of their own quality standards.
The announcement, part of Sega Sammy Holdings' financial results, includes a writedown of associated costs. However, Sega has confirmed that no job losses are resulting from the cancellation. Sports Interactive acknowledged the disappointment this will cause fans, particularly given two prior delays, and is offering refunds to those who pre-ordered.
The developer cited issues with the player experience and interface as key factors in the cancellation. Internal testing and consumer playtesting confirmed that while some aspects met expectations, the overall game did not reach the required standard. Releasing a compromised version was deemed unacceptable, particularly given the late release date would have clashed with the football season.
There will be no Football Manager 24 update with 2024/25 season data. Sports Interactive is now concentrating its efforts on Football Manager 26, targeting the usual November release window. Discussions are underway with platform holders and licensors regarding potential extensions of FM24 agreements on subscription services. The company expressed gratitude for fan support and apologized for the inconvenience caused by the cancellation.
Latest Downloads
Downlaod
Top News
