The latest update in the popular Football Manager series has been canceled, as announced by its developers. Fans of the long-standing video game began to speculate about its future when an update scheduled for late last month did not materialize.
In a blog post, developer Sports Interactive informed players that they had made the "difficult decision" to cancel the 2025 edition because it did not meet the "standards you deserve." The focus will now shift to the 2026 version of the game, and fans who had preordered the canceled release will be able to request a refund.
Football Manager, launched in 2004, allows fans to assume the role of a manager and lead a team through a season. The next edition promised upgrades to the game's visuals, interface, and the inclusion of women's teams for the first time.
Sports Interactive had to create a new stats database and capture motion sequences for female players. They also adjusted the international management mode and put on hold other features from previous releases.
The company was reluctant to delay the game beyond March "as it would be too late in the football season" to do so. Apologizing to fans, they cited financial regulations and obligations to shareholders for not announcing the delay earlier.
"Every effort is now focused on ensuring that our next release meets our goals and reaches the expected quality level. We will provide an update on our progress as soon as possible."