"Football Manager director admits high price paid for humiliating scrapping of FM25 launch"

Football Manager, a renowned football gaming title, has made headlines recently due to an unexpected turn of events. The developers, Sports Interactive (SI), announced the cancellation of Football Manager 25 (FM25) back in February.

Miles Jacobson, the boss of Sports Interactive, revealed that the cancellation was an 'expensive decision' but necessary. According to Jacobson, the team was too ambitious with their planned changes, and the game did not meet the expected standards. The average rating of FM25 from consumer testing was about seven out of ten, which was considered below the Sports Interactive quality level.

The decision to focus on Football Manager 26 (FM26) instead of releasing FM25 was made in cooperation with the game's publisher, SEGA. The aim is to set a new standard for the series and revitalize the football manager experience.

SI has confirmed that FM26 will be equipped with the new Unity engine, promising smoother animations, improved ball physics, and sharpened player movement. A sneak peek of FM26, known as the #FM26 Match Day First Look, is coming soon.

The cancellation of FM25 has left players disappointed but appreciative of the decision to not release an unfinished game. Miles Jacobson admitted that the team was too clever with their plans for FM25, leading to the decision to cancel the game.

The focus is now on the next release, FM26. The studio director stated that they are working diligently to ensure that FM26 meets the high standards that Football Manager fans have come to expect. The cancellation was a damage limitation move to prevent the release of a substandard game and maintain the reputation of the Football Manager series.

The Football Manager gaming community is eagerly awaiting the release of FM26, expected in late 2025. The cancellation of FM25 was purely about maintaining standards and setting the stage for a groundbreaking new game in the series.

"Football Manager director admits high price paid for humiliating scrapping of FM25 launch"