Sega and Sports Interactive have scrapped Football Manager 25 across all platforms due to a challenging development process. This marks the first time the sports simulation series, which began in 2004, will miss an annual release.

UK developer Sports Interactive had touted FM25 as delivering "the most significant technical and visual leap for the series in years." However, transitioning to the Unity game engine proved difficult, particularly with the player experience and interface.

The cancellation was announced alongside Sega Sammy Holdings’ latest financial results, which reflect a write-off of costs tied to the game. Sports Interactive, after thorough discussions with Sega, shared the decision in a blog post to fans. Sega confirmed to IGN that no jobs will be affected by this move.

Sports Interactive noted there will be no Football Manager 24 update with 2024/25 season data, as it would pull essential resources from the next release, which now demands full attention. The studio is in talks with platform holders and licensors to potentially extend FM24 agreements on subscription services like Game Pass.

FM25 had already faced two delays, with the latest pushing it to March 2025. Sports Interactive has now redirected efforts to Football Manager 26, slated for release in its usual November window.

“We deeply appreciate everyone who pre-ordered FM25 and are truly sorry for disappointing you,” Sports Interactive stated. Refunds are being provided.

“We understand this news is a major letdown, especially after two delayed release dates and your anticipation for the first gameplay reveal. We apologize for the time it took to share this decision, as stakeholder obligations, including legal and financial requirements, delayed our announcement until today.

“Our goal has always been to deliver games that offer exceptional value, countless hours of enjoyment, and a sense of worth for every moment and penny spent. With FM25, we aimed to achieve the biggest technical and visual advancement in a generation, setting the foundation for a new era.

“Despite our team’s extraordinary efforts, various challenges—some shared publicly, others unexpected—prevented us from meeting our goals in key areas. Each delay aimed to bring the game closer to our vision, but as critical milestones approached, it became clear that even the adjusted timeline wouldn’t deliver the quality you deserve.

“While many elements of the game met our expectations, the overall player experience and interface fell short. Extensive evaluations, including consumer playtesting, confirmed the game’s promising direction but also highlighted that it didn’t yet meet the standards you expect.

“We could have released FM25 as is and patched it later, but that wouldn’t be right. Releasing beyond March was also not viable, as it would be too late in the football season to ask players to purchase another title later in the year.

“With this cancellation, we’re fully committed to ensuring our next release meets our shared expectations for quality. We’ll provide updates on our progress as soon as possible.

“Thank you for your patience and ongoing support. Our focus is now on building a new era for Football Manager.”