Sports Interactive, the game developers responsible for the creation of Football Manager, have decided to delay the launch of the 2025 edition, FM25, once again, this time until March 2025.
Why the delay? In a development update back in September, the company announced that they had pushed the release to November 2024 to give themselves ample time to deliver the best possible experience in a new era for the game. In a statement, they reiterated:
“Timelines were already tight, and as many of you rightly pointed out in your recent comments, we were simply rushing too much and risking the compromise of our usual standards. This put an enormous amount of pressure on everyone working across the studio, who are committed to delivering the best game possible.”
FM25 was set to be their biggest technical and visual leap in the series for a generation, and the developers refused to compromise their integrity. It’s important to note that Sports Interactive started back in 1992 with the game Championship Manager. After splitting from their original publishers in the 2000s, they rebranded following a deal with SEGA. Since then, Football Manager has remained a fan favorite among armchair coaches.
Once again, however, the inevitable occurred. Following discussions with SEGA, licensors, and partners, they agreed to postpone the release until March 2025, without specifying an exact date. Time was once again a factor, as there simply wasn’t enough to meet the required standards. The game is set to feature an updated match engine and an enhanced scouting system.
For those who pre-ordered the game and wish to claim a refund, they can contact their retailers. Additionally, the new gameplay will be revealed at the end of January 2025. But what impact will a four-month delay have on consumers?
Fans on social media expressed disappointment over the delay, as the game is loved by real-life players, coaches, and casual gamers alike—demonstrating the strong support of a loyal fanbase. However, this delay puts even more pressure on the developers and marketers to maintain high standards upon release. A failure to meet expectations could result in significant backlash.
From the consumer’s perspective, though, this delay ensures they receive a well-polished product without major flaws. A recent example of the risks of rushed releases is EA Mobile’s FC25, which was heavily criticized for lacking innovation and introducing unnecessary changes.
Football Manager 2025 will be available on PC for Mac, Steam, Windows, and the Epic Games Store. Although consumers generally understood the reason for the delay, many took to X (formerly Twitter) to ask if FM24 would receive updates and suggested that Sports Interactive should perfect FM25 and release it as the 2026 edition instead of rushing it for next year. I agree with this perspective from consumers.
We’ll keep you updated on the situation and any further announcements regarding the release.
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