In a surprising turn of events, UK developer Sports Interactive has officially announced the cancellation of Football Manager 25. The studio shared this decision on its website, noting that it was only now able to disclose the news due to legal and financial regulations, as well as the need for ‘stakeholder compliance’.
Challenges in Development
Sports Interactive cited “a variety of challenges” as the primary reason for pulling the plug on the much-anticipated title. A significant factor appears to be the studio’s transition from its proprietary engine to Unity, which has introduced complexities into the development process.
In their statement, Sports Interactive emphasized their commitment to delivering high-quality games that provide exceptional value and enjoyment. “We have always prided ourselves on delivering the best value for money games that bring you countless hours of enjoyment, that feel worth every moment and every penny you spend,” the studio remarked. They had aimed for Football Manager 25 to represent a monumental technical and visual leap for the franchise, laying the groundwork for a new era in gaming.
However, despite the dedicated efforts of the team, Sports Interactive acknowledged that they have not met their ambitious goals in several key areas of the game. “Each decision to delay the release was made with the aim of getting the game closer to the desired level,” they explained. Yet, as critical milestones approached at the beginning of the year, it became increasingly evident that the game would not meet the necessary standards, even with the adjusted timeline.
While many aspects of the game had met the set targets, the overall player experience and interface fell short of expectations. Extensive evaluations, including consumer playtesting, provided valuable insights into the new direction of the game. Although progress has been made, Sports Interactive concluded that they are still not at the level that players deserve.
Initially scheduled for release in early November, Football Manager 25 had already been postponed to later that month, and then to March 2025. This cancellation marks yet another setback for Sega’s European division, which faced challenges earlier in 2023 when the company scrapped the development of Hyenas at Creative Assembly, leading to layoffs at the studio.
