Sega has delivered surprising news to fans of the niche yet immensely popular Football Manager series: there will be no new installment for the 2025 season. In a transparent official statement, Sega and Sports Interactive announced the cancellation of the anticipated game and confirmed that all preorders will be refunded.
So, what went wrong? The statement revealed that the game, which had already faced two delays, was simply too unfinished to release. The developers had ambitiously promised a major technological breakthrough in the new installment but were unable to fulfill this vision in time. This level of upfront honesty is commendable, especially when compared to other sports simulators that often release games with minimal changes (we're looking at you, NBA 2K!).
Despite the commendable transparency, the situation remains disappointing for fans. Adding to the frustration, the developers confirmed that Football Manager 24 will not receive updates with new season data. This decision is a significant blow, particularly for players who have seen past success stories of in-game managers landing real-life jobs at football clubs. For the next year, players will have to make do with an outdated version of the game.
All that remains is to wait for future announcements from Sega and Sports Interactive. Fans of the series will be eagerly anticipating updates on when they can expect the next installment and what new features it might bring.