The wait for Football Manager fans is over, but not in the way many expected. SEGA and Sports Interactive have announced that This year's delivery, Football Manager 2025 has been officially canceled after several delays and difficulties in development. This news is an unexpected blow for fans of the franchise, who were eagerly awaiting the promised evolution with a new graphics engine and significant improvements in gameplay.
The study explained that They failed to meet the proposed quality standards, which led to the difficult decision to cancel the game. and redirect their efforts to the next version. Despite months of work and attempts to overcome obstacles, those responsible have determined that releasing the title in its current state would not be appropriate.
A problematic development and multiple delays
Problems in the development of Football Manager 2025 began from its conception. In June 2023, Sports Interactive announced the decision to change the graphics engine to Unity, a move that was intended to give the series a qualitative leap. However, this process turned out to be more complex than expected, generating difficulties in several areas of the game.
Initially, The launch was planned for November 2024, as is tradition in the saga. However, Technical problems forced a first delay until March 2025As the months went by, the development team realized that even with this extension, the final product would not reach the desired quality level.
Interface and user experience were two of the main sticking points. Although some aspects showed good progress, the general feeling was that the game was still not living up to the expectations of the company and the community.
Reasons behind the cancellation
In the official statement, Sports Interactive has detailed the reasons that led to this cancellation. One of the most determining factors was the impossibility of achieving the ambitious quality objectives. that had been set for this delivery.
The team had already delayed the game twice., hoping that the extra time would allow for the existing problems to be fixed. However, as key development dates progressed, it became clear that the expected quality and deadlines would not be met. Rather than release an unfinished or seriously flawed product, the decision was made to cancel the project altogether.
Another aspect that was taken into account was the impact on the community. Releasing Football Manager 2025 after March would have meant selling two instalments in a short period of time, which could have negatively affected the game's perception and player economy.
Refund for buyers
For those who had already pre-ordered Football Manager 2025, SEGA has assured that All purchases made through official stores will be automatically refundedIn the case of physical purchases, users must manage their return with the store where they purchased the product.
The Sports Interactive team has taken this opportunity to thank the community for their support and apologize for any inconvenience caused. The cancellation of this title does not mean the end of the franchise, but the studio is already working on the next installment with a view to ensuring that it meets all expectations.
Future of the Football Manager saga
Although the news of the cancellation is a blow to fans of the series, Sports Interactive reaffirms its commitment to the franchise. Currently, The team is redirecting its efforts towards Football Manager 2026, with the intention of taking advantage of the lessons learned and improving in all possible aspects.
The study has confirmed that There will be no update with data for the 2024/25 season in Football Manager 2024, as this would divert essential resources from the development of the next title. However, they are in talks with their partners to extend the agreements for the current installment on subscription platforms.
Fans of the series will have to wait until news about the next installment is announced. The studio has promised to provide more information as development progresses and has assured that its goal remains to offer the best possible experience for fans of the genre football management.
With this decision, SEGA and Sports Interactive seek to avoid long-term problems and assure that the Football Manager saga will continue with a renewed focus on quality and innovation.