When Sports Interactive, the London‑based studio behind the Football Manager series, announced on that Football Manager 25 would never see a retail shelf, the gaming world stopped in its tracks. The decision, delivered in a terse statement across the studio’s social channels, was confirmed by Miles Jacobson, Studio Director of Sports Interactive, who called the move "embarrassing" and warned that releasing the title would have "damaged us forever".
What led to the cancellation?
The road to February’s announcement was anything but smooth. Originally slated for an early‑November 2024 launch, FM 25 was pushed back twice – first to later in November, then again after an October update flagged major stability issues. Jacobson revealed he spent Christmas 2024 playing a build that felt “just wasn’t fun” and, after an hour of testing, gave the blunt verdict: “Nope, we can’t release this.”
The studio’s official statement, released simultaneously on its website, Twitter, and Discord, cited “the overarching player experience and interface” as falling short of the franchise’s standards. They added that extensive internal discussions with their parent company, SEGA Holdings Co., Ltd., led to the “difficult decision” to cancel and refocus on the next iteration.
Development challenges and the Unity engine shift
FM 25 was billed as the most technically ambitious edition yet. It would have been the first in the series to abandon the proprietary engine for Unity, promising smoother graphics, faster matchmaking, and a deeper AI simulation. The shift also opened the door for a long‑awaited women’s football mode, adding fully licensed female clubs and players for the first time.
Unfortunately, the transition proved harder than anticipated. Engineers reported compatibility glitches with legacy data, while the new UI framework struggled to render the dense tactical overlays that power‑users cherish. Jacobson admitted the project became “the most expensive decision the studio has ever made,” not just in monetary terms but in lost development momentum that now echoes into the upcoming Football Manager 26.
Reactions from fans and the industry
The announcement sparked a flood of responses on Reddit’s r/footballmanager, Twitter, and dedicated FM forums. Long‑time fans expressed disappointment but also appreciation for the studio’s honesty. One user wrote, “I’d rather wait for a solid game than be handed a broken one every year.”
Industry analysts noted the move as a rare instance of a major franchise pulling the plug mid‑cycle. Gaming‑industry site GamesRadar commented, “It’s a bold, if risky, statement about quality over schedule.” Meanwhile, competitor Paradox Interactive saw a modest uptick in pre‑orders for its own management titles, suggesting a temporary shift in consumer attention.
Financial and staffing impact
Cancelling a yearly flagship inevitably dents revenue. Internal estimates suggest Sports Interactive forfeited roughly £30 million in projected sales for the 2024‑25 fiscal year. Jacobson stressed, however, that the studio avoided massive layoffs. “There wasn’t a massive layoff of staff,” he said, adding that turnover was actually lower than in previous years.
The company’s 300‑strong workforce, split between its Old Street headquarters in London and satellite offices in Helsinki, remained intact. Teams are now conducting retrospectives to pin down exactly where the Unity migration went awry, a process Jacobson described as “critical for us to take stock and actually look at what went wrong.”
Looking ahead to Football Manager 26
With FM 25 shelved, the studio’s roadmap pivots to FM 26, slated for a November release as per tradition. Jacobson promised that the lessons learned will feed into a “great game” that feels “worth every moment and every penny.” While no exact launch date has been announced, the team has already resumed work on a refreshed UI, improved scouting algorithms, and expanded women's leagues.
Pre‑order customers for the cancelled FM 25 are eligible for full refunds, and the studio urges fans to add the upcoming title to their wishlists to receive launch alerts. “We’re committed to delivering the best value for money games,” the February statement read, echoing a sentiment that has defined the franchise for three decades.
Background: The Football Manager franchise
Sports Interactive took over the Football Manager brand from Eidos Interactive in 2004, launching the first edition for the 2004‑05 season. Since then, 21 consecutive yearly releases have cemented the series as the gold standard for soccer management simulations. The titles are renowned for their depth—over 30,000 real‑world players, intricate tactical options, and a database that rivals actual scouting departments.
Earlier this decade, the series earned praise for adding “Football Manager Touch” for mobile platforms and, more recently, for its “Data Hub” feature that lets players import and export custom databases. The decision to finally embrace women’s football in FM 25 was hailed as a watershed moment, aligning the series with growing calls for gender equality in sports gaming.
- Cancellation announced: 7 February 2025
- Original release window: November 2024
- Primary reason: “Player experience and interface not up to standard”
- Parent company: SEGA Holdings Co., Ltd.
- Future focus: Football Manager 26, November 2025 launch window
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sports Interactive cancel Football Manager 25?
The studio said the game’s core player experience and user interface fell short of expectations, and internal testing during Christmas 2024 confirmed it wasn’t fun enough to release.
How will the cancellation affect fans who pre‑ordered?
All pre‑orders will be fully refunded. Sports Interactive encourages buyers to add Football Manager 26 to their wishlists to receive launch notifications.
What technical changes were planned for FM 25?
FM 25 was set to transition from the studio’s proprietary engine to Unity, introduce a revamped UI, and add fully licensed women’s clubs and players for the first time.
Will the cancellation impact the release date of FM 26?
The studio confirmed FM 26 will still target the traditional November window, though no exact date has been set. Development resources have been redirected to ensure a higher‑quality launch.
How does SEGA fit into the decision?
As the parent company, SEGA Holdings worked closely with Sports Interactive during the deliberation process, ultimately supporting the cancellation to protect the brand’s long‑term reputation.
