Football Manager 25 has been officially canceled, with Sega and Sports Interactive confirming that development has been halted following a series of delays. This marks a historic moment for the franchise, as it’s the first time a mainline Football Manager game has been skipped. The cancellation also brings disappointing news for Microsoft Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming users, who were expecting the game to launch on both platforms day one. Instead, the development team has shifted its focus to Football Manager 26, which is now planned as the franchise's next major release.
The decision to cancel FM25 follows a turbulent development cycle characterized by repeated delays and uncertainty. According to Sports Interactive, the focus was on maintaining quality rather than rushing out an incomplete product.
Studio head Miles Jacobson explained that technical challenges, particularly with a major engine transition, made meeting a 2025 release window difficult. The game was intended to be the first in the series to run on Unity, a move aimed at modernizing the long-standing franchise. However, unforeseen complications with the engine transition meant the game couldn’t be completed in time. As a result, the team decided to cancel FM25 and direct their efforts towards FM26.
Jacobson emphasized: "We could release something in 2025, but it wouldn’t meet our standards. We’re not prepared to do that."
When Will FM26 Release?With Football Manager 25 now scrapped, the focus has shifted to FM26, which will be the next official installment of the series. Sports Interactive has confirmed that FM26 is still on track for a late 2025 release, with the additional development time allowing the team to polish the game’s features and properly implement the new Unity engine.
FM26 is expected to launch on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and mobile devices, and will also be available on Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming on release day, giving subscribers access to the game as part of their membership.
Miles Jacobson added: "FM26 will be the game we originally envisioned for FM25, but with additional refinements that wouldn’t have been possible on our original schedule."
Football Manager 25 FAQ
Will FM25 be released at all?No. Development on FM25 has been permanently canceled. The next game in the franchise will be Football Manager 26.
Why was FM25 canceled?Technical issues and development delays forced Sports Interactive to skip FM25 and focus on FM26, ensuring a smooth transition to the Unity engine.
When will FM26 be released?FM26 is planned for release in late 2025, though an official release date has not yet been confirmed.
Will FM26 be available on Xbox Game Pass?Yes. FM26 will launch on Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming, similar to previous installments.
What will FM26 change?FM26 will be the first Football Manager to run on Unity, which is expected to bring improved graphics, enhanced AI, and new gameplay mechanics.
What Does This Mean for the Football Manager Franchise?The decision to cancel FM25 instead of releasing an unfinished product is a bold yet sensible move that prioritizes the long-term quality of the series. Rushing the transition to a new game engine could have led to serious technical issues, and Sports Interactive clearly made the right call by taking the extra time.
However, skipping a full year presents challenges. For fans, especially Xbox Game Pass subscribers who were anticipating a 2025 release, the gap in the franchise’s annual cycle is frustrating. It raises questions about how FM26 will unfold and whether the extended development time will live up to expectations.
The cancellation of FM25 also sets a precedent for the franchise and signals a potential shift in the gaming industry as a whole. Just like other major franchises such as Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty, which have taken breaks from their annual release cycles to improve their games, Football Manager may be moving towards longer development periods to deliver bigger, more refined updates.
Now, with the focus on FM26, the pressure is on for the next installment to justify this break and demonstrate that the extra development time was well worth it. If FM26 successfully delivers a polished and innovative experience, the wait will have been worthwhile. If not, skipping FM25 could feel like a major misstep.

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