In a surprising turn of events, Football Manager 25 has been officially cancelled following two delays, leaving fans disappointed and uncertain about the future of the beloved series. The news came from Sports Interactive, the developers behind the popular football management simulation game, who announced the decision in a blog post earlier this week.
The Decision to Cancel Football Manager 25
The cancellation came after the long-awaited Football Manager 25 update, which was initially set to release late last month, failed to materialize. Fans had been eagerly awaiting the update, which had been promised to offer significant improvements and new features. However, the absence of the update led to growing speculation, with many wondering what had happened behind the scenes.
In the blog post, Sports Interactive explained that the decision to cancel the 2025 edition was not made lightly. The developer stated that the game was “too far away from the standards” that players expect and deserve. Despite the best efforts of the team, it was clear that the update would not meet the high-quality expectations that have become synonymous with the Football Manager franchise.
Focus Now Shifts to Football Manager 2026
With the cancellation of Football Manager 25, Sports Interactive announced that its focus will now shift to the 2026 edition of the game. The developers made it clear that they are committed to ensuring the next release meets the standards fans expect, with a focus on delivering an engaging and polished experience. As part of the cancellation, players who had pre-ordered Football Manager 25 will be eligible for a refund.
Why the Delay Happened
The delay of Football Manager 25 was not a result of laziness or a lack of effort. In fact, Sports Interactive had made significant strides in enhancing the game. The 2025 edition was set to introduce several major upgrades, including visual enhancements, a more intuitive interface, and the inclusion of women’s teams for the first time in the series’ history.
The inclusion of women’s teams required the development of an entirely new stats database and motion-capture sequences to accurately depict female players. This marked a major step in the evolution of the game, but it also contributed to the delays. Sports Interactive explained that the decision to scale back certain aspects, such as the international management mode, and to pause some other features from previous versions was necessary to focus on getting these core upgrades right.
A Tough Decision for the Developers
One of the most significant factors behind the cancellation was timing. Sports Interactive stated that they were unwilling to push the game back beyond March because it would be “too late in the football season” for players to fully enjoy the update. As the season would already be in progress by then, the team felt it would be better to focus on making the next edition a truly outstanding release rather than rushing through an update that wouldn’t meet their own high standards.
Apologies and Future Updates
In the blog post, Sports Interactive expressed their deep regret over the situation and issued a heartfelt apology to fans who were eagerly awaiting the new edition. They also explained that they couldn’t announce the delay earlier due to financial regulations and obligations to their shareholders, which complicated the timing of the announcement.
However, the developers assured fans that every effort is now focused on ensuring that the next release, Football Manager 2026, will meet the expectations of their loyal community. The company promised to keep players updated on the progress of the next edition as soon as they have more concrete details to share.
