"Football Manager director admits financial implications of the humiliating cancellation of FM25"

Football Manager 25 Cancelled, Focus Shifts to Football Manager 26

In a surprising turn of events, Sports Interactive (SI), the developer behind the popular football gaming title, Football Manager, has announced the cancellation of Football Manager 25 (FM25). The publisher for FM25 was SEGA Corporation.

The decision to cancel the game was due to concerns about its quality, as revealed by SI's boss, Miles Jacobson, in an interview with BBC Newsbeat. The cancellation was announced in February this year.

Jacobson admitted that the delays in announcing the cancellation were a bit embarrassing for the studio, stating that they "looked a bit stupid." He also mentioned that the cancellation was an 'expensive decision.'

Consumer testing of FM25 resulted in an average rating of 7 out of 10, which was deemed unacceptable by Sports Interactive. The studio tried to make too many changes for FM25, leading to the decision to cancel the game.

However, SI is now focusing on Football Manager 26 (FM26), which is expected to be released in late 2025. The next release will be powered by the Unity engine, offering improved animations, ball physics, and player movement.

SI is working to improve various aspects of FM26, including the game's features, graphics, and overall gameplay. The studio is also focusing on ensuring the overarching player experience and interface for FM26 meet high standards.

A sneak peek at FM26, titled "#FM26 Match Day First Look," has been released, hinting at the improvements and updates in the new game. The announcement was made by Sports Interactive.

Football Manager is a prominent football gaming title, and the cancellation of FM25 was purely about standards and not meeting Sports Interactive's quality level. The studio is determined to make FM26 a success and deliver a high-quality gaming experience to its fans.

"Football Manager director admits financial implications of the humiliating cancellation of FM25"