During the last few months, the video game industry has seen significant developments, including new title releases and console announcements. However, one sector is struggling: soccer simulators. Two notable games have made headlines for the wrong reasons. Firstly, PC Soccer 8, a highly anticipated game, has been delayed and has yet to be released. Secondly, Football Manager 25, a prominent sports simulator, has been canceled.
The official Football Manager account in Spanish released a statement confirming the bad news: “Sports Interactive regrets to inform that, after a long internal conversation and deep reflection with SEGA, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Football Manager 25 and focus on the next installment.” The company apologized to those who had already reserved FM25, expressing gratitude for their trust and support, and acknowledging their disappointment.
The reasons for the cancellation of Football Manager 25 were also explained. The company apologized for not communicating this decision earlier, citing legal issues and agreements with partners. It appears that Sports Interactive was overly ambitious with Football Manager 25, aiming for the greatest technical and visual advance in the franchise’s history. Despite the team’s efforts, they were unable to achieve their goals in several areas of the game.
The decision to delay the game was made to approach the desired level of quality, but as key dates approached, it became clear that the goal would not be met. The company confessed that the game could have been launched with fixes made later, but they did not want to compromise on quality. They also did not want the game to be released after March, as it would be too late in the season, implying that fans would have to buy two games in a short period.
Although the cancellation of Football Manager 25 is disappointing for fans, the saga will continue. The company confirmed that they will strive to ensure the next installment meets their goals and expectations. They will provide updates on the progress as soon as possible, thanking fans for their patience and support. Despite the setback, the company is looking forward to a new era of Football Manager.