As someone who has spent countless hours navigating the intricate world of football management simulations, the announcement of the cancellation of Football Manager 25 (FM25) hit me harder than I could have imagined. For years, the Football Manager series, developed by Sports Interactive, has been the pinnacle of football simulation games, offering players the most in-depth, realistic, and emotionally charged experience of managing a football club.
The news of its cancellation feels like the rug has been pulled out from under me, leaving behind a gaping hole in my gaming life. Yes, FM26 was also announced, but that is not expected until at least September 2025. Maybe.
Football Manager is more than just a game. It is a meticulously crafted experience that allows players to step into the shoes of a football manager and make critical decisions that influence a team’s success. The strategic depth, the thrill of negotiating contracts, the satisfaction of developing young talent, and the pressure of making the right tactical choices make it a world that has captivated millions, myself included. Every year, the anticipation builds for the next instalment, and FM25 was no exception. The series has grown steadily, with updates that refine the gameplay, introduce new features, and maintain its reputation for realism. For many of us, it is a yearly ritual, a game that demands not only skill but also time and dedication.
When I first heard the news of FM25’s cancellation, it felt like a betrayal. The feeling was similar to when a favourite TV show is cancelled unexpectedly. You have invested so much time into the series, building your dream team, guiding your club to glory, managing your tactics to perfection, and the thought of no longer having that outlet to fuel my love for football and strategy was truly upsetting. The passion I have for the simulation genre made it even harder to accept.
Simulations, by their nature, allow you to live out experiences and outcomes that would be impossible or improbable in real life. FM25 was supposed to be another iteration of that dream. The potential to guide my team to domestic and international dominance, or perhaps to rebuild a fallen giant from the ground up, was something I had eagerly awaited.
The cancellation of FM25 leaves a void not just in terms of entertainment, but in a larger sense. There are countless other simulation games, but few of them capture the complexities and nuances of managing a football club with the same level of depth as Football Manager. Other sports or general management simulations do not quite provide the same immersive feeling. Football has a unique place in the hearts of millions, and managing a club is a personal, often emotional, journey. The choices you make in FM are more than numbers. They represent dreams, ambition, and the unpredictable nature of the sport itself.
For those of us who have grown up with Football Manager, the absence of the next instalment feels like a personal loss. The world of football simulation has been a constant companion, an ever-evolving platform where we can test our skills, strategize, and dream big. Without Football Manager 25, there is a sense of disconnection. While I could just go back and play FM24, that is not the point. I have logged over 900 hours on FM24 alone.
I was looking forward to the new features FM25 had promised: women’s football, the UEFA Champions League, and the Premier League licence. These are things people have waited over a decade for. The future of the series is uncertain now. The thrill of exploring a fresh season and diving into the next chapter of management is something I already deeply miss.
In the end, the cancellation of Football Manager 25 is not just the loss of a game. It is the loss of an experience that many of us have come to cherish. As I reflect on my years spent in the world of FM, I cannot help but hope that Football Manager 26 comes early this year. They have had two years to complete it at this point. I also hope they add more. I could provide a whole other page of wish-listed features for an FM game. But for now, we sit and hope for any news of FM26.
