Football Manager 25 is officially cancelled — Sports Interactive issues apology and refunds

It’s been officially announced that Football Manager 25 won’t be released, and without any need for action on your part, refunds will be processed for those who had previously ordered and paid for the game in advance.

Now, the developers are focusing on their upcoming edition, presumably Football Manager 26. This forthcoming release is expected to mark a fresh phase for the series, and we promise to share any new information about it as soon as we get it.

The full statement, as posted on the official Football Manager website, reads like so:

Sports Interactive expresses their apologies for the change in plans, as after thorough internal discussions with SEGA, they’ve decided to terminate the development of Football Manager 25 and instead concentrate on preparing for the next release.

For those of you who pre-ordered FM25, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for placing your trust in us and offering your support. We deeply regret that we’ve fallen short of expectations. Below, you’ll find instructions on how to request a refund.

To all those who pre-ordered FM25, thank you so much for believing in us and showing your support. Unfortunately, we’ve let you down. For details on receiving a refund, please refer to the FAQs provided.

I’m sorry to inform you that we must postpone the release of the first gameplay reveal yet again. We understand that this news might be disheartening, considering the delays and your eagerness for this moment. We regret any inconvenience caused by this prolonged silence. The earliest possible date for sharing this decision was today, due to the necessity of adhering to stakeholder compliance requirements, including legal and financial regulations.

For years, we’ve been known for offering top-tier games that provide you with endless enjoyment, making every moment and every dollar spent worth it. Our newest release, FM25, aims to be the most significant technical and visual enhancement in the series for a long time, paving the way for a new chapter.

Due to numerous hurdles we’ve been transparent about so far, along with some unexpected ones, we haven’t managed to meet our objectives in several aspects of the game as planned, despite our team’s tireless efforts. Every decision to postpone the launch was made with the intention of bringing the game closer to our ideal state, but as we neared crucial deadlines at the end of the year, it became evident that we wouldn’t reach the quality we strive for, even with the extended timeline.

Although several aspects of the game meet our goals, the overall player experience and user interface fall short of what’s required. Extensive reviews, including consumer feedback, confirm that we’re on the right track with the new direction for the game, but there’s still a gap between where we are now and the quality you should expect.

As a dedicated gamer, I understand the urge to just push through and launch FM25 as it stands, fixing issues along the way. However, that’s not the path we chose. We were reluctant to extend our release date beyond March because it would be too late in the football season for players to embrace another game later in the year.

As a devoted follower, I’m fully committed to the fact that our upcoming launch is going to be nothing short of extraordinary. Every ounce of energy is being channeled towards ensuring it meets our high standards and lives up to our collective expectations. Rest assured, you’ll be the first to know about our progress as soon as we make any significant strides!

Appreciate you taking the time to read through it all! Your understanding and ongoing encouragement mean a lot to us. Now, we’re fully committed to ushering in a fresh chapter for Football Manager.

We’ll be sure to bring you more Football Manager news as we hear it.

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