Football Manager 25 cancelled: Sports Interactive shifts focus to FM 26

Cancelled due to transition issues with Unity Engine

After getting delayed many times, Sports Interactive announced the cancellation of Football Manager 25 and fans were really depressed by this.

The developers announced the decision in a poignant blog on the game’s official website, explaining their transfer of focus to the next project, Football Manager 26. (FM 26) Let’s check out more details in this article.

Why was Football Manager 25 cancelled?

The game was scheduled to launch in Fall 2024 but got delayed which pushed the launch to March 2025. The game’s transfer from Sports Interactive’s proprietary engine (SIOS) to the Unity engine was largely responsible for these difficulties. Despite the team’s “phenomenal efforts,” they failed to satisfy their quality standards in numerous critical areas, most notably the user experience and interface.

“We know this will come as a huge disappointment,” the studio acknowledged. “Whilst many areas of the game have hit our targets, the overarching player experience and interface is not where we need it to be.”

Sports Interactive considered releasing the game in its current version and repairing faults after launch but eventually opted against it. “We didn’t believe it to be the right thing to do for the players who have been supporting the franchise for years,” they stated. Furthermore, additional delays beyond March were judged impossible due to the late scheduling of the football season.

Also Read: EA FC 26 leaks: Early development stage sparks concerns among fans

The cancellation allows the team to focus all of their efforts on Football Manager 26, to produce a game that lives up to their high expectations. “Every effort is now focused on ensuring that our next release achieves our goal and hits the quality level we all expect,” they’ve said.

Players and fans who have pre-ordered Football Manager 25 will get their refunds through their retailers, ensuring no one will suffer any losses. What are your thoughts on this and will you be waiting for FM 26? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment section.

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