Sports Interactive/SEGA
In a shocking cancellation, Sports Interactive and SEGA have axed Football Manager 25 (FM25) only weeks ahead of its scheduled release in March 2025. The cancellation follows a series of delays and marks a rare cancellation of a significant sports title that was announced prior to the move.
Timeline of a Cancellation
- Fall 2024: Originally set to release, FM25 was postponed to March 2025 to polish.
- January 2025: A promised gameplay reveal was never made.
- February 6, 2025: Statement: Official declaration; preorders may be prepaid refunded.
Reason For Cancellation
Sports Interactive gave a statement honestly saying "Overall player experience and interface has been not right on the need, we had some things broken with FM25; we actually can release them to the general market and go through fixing every aspect later afterwards. That was wrong.
Consumer playtests highlighted unresolved issues, including clunky UI and incomplete features, despite progress in other areas.
Industry Context
The cancellation echoes EA’s 2010 NBA Elite 11 debacle, where a bug-ridden demo led to last-minute withdrawal. Unlike annualized franchises (Madden, FIFA), Football Manager’s niche, simulation-heavy audience demands depth, making rushed releases riskier.
Fan Reactions & Future Plans
- Disappointment: Longtime fans lament lost progress on anticipated updates (e.g., improved AI, new tactics systems).
- Applause for Integrity. Many will applaud prioritizing quality over meeting release dates, in contrast to criticized rushed sports titles (NHL 24, WWE 2K22).
- Focus on FM26: Development is said to shift to Football Manager 26, planned for late 2025, with promises of "revolutionary changes."
Broader Implications
Cancellation does raise questions about sports gaming's "annual release" model. Can others follow this example?
