Shocking news comes from the world of soccer simulation games. Football Manager series game developer, Sports Interactive, have announced the cancellation of their latest project, Football Manager 25 (FM25).. This decision came after a series of delays and challenges in the development process that kept them from achieving the expected quality standards.
In an official statement, Sports Interactive said, "We know this will be a huge disappointment, especially considering the release date has been delayed twice, and you've been looking forward to the first gameplay reveal. We can only apologize for the time it has taken to communicate this decision. Due to stakeholder compliance, including legal and financial regulations, today is the earliest date we can issue this statement."
The release has been postponed
FM25 was originally scheduled for release in November 2024, but was delayed to March 2025 before being canceled completely. The developers stated that they faced various challenges, both known and unforeseen, that hindered them from achieving their targets. While many aspects of the game have hit the mark, the overall player experience and user interface have not met the desired standards.
Sports Interactive added, "We could have gone ahead, released FM25 in its current state, and improved it at a later date-but that wasn't the right thing to do. We also didn't want to go beyond the March release because it would be too late in the soccer season to expect players to then buy another game later in the year."
Instead, they decided to shift focus entirely on the development of the next release, with the aim of ensuring that the next game achieves the quality expected by the community. They also promised to provide updates on their progress as soon as possible.
For those fans who have pre-ordered FM25, the developers confirmed that refunds will be processed automatically. They stated, "For the large number of you who have pre-ordered FM25, we are very grateful for your trust and support-we are very sorry to have let you down."
Football Manager Fans Disappointed
This decision certainly caused various reactions among the gamer community. Many felt disappointed as they had been looking forward to the release of FM25, especially after the previous delays. However, there are also those who understand and appreciate the honesty and transparency of the developers. They hope that with full focus on the next release, Sports Interactive can deliver a game that meets or even exceeds expectations.
Cancellation of game projects is nothing new to the industry. Various factors, ranging from technical challenges, funding issues, to changes in business strategy, can be the reasons behind such decisions. However, what makes the difference is how developers handle these situations and communicate with their communities. In the case of FM25, the transparency and apology demonstrated the developer's commitment to its community.
Going forward, it is important for the developers to maintain open communication with the fans. They need to provide regular updates on future plans and how they plan to address existing challenges. Also, listening to feedback from the community can be an important step in ensuring that the next product meets expectations.
