As the excitement of the Super Bowl captures attention across the nation, significant developments are unfolding in the realm of association football. ECNETNews reports that game developer Sports Interactive has announced a major shift regarding its upcoming title, Football Manager 25.
Originally slated for release in March 2024, Football Manager 25 will not only miss its launch date but has also been canceled altogether. This decision follows a prior delay from its initial release window in November 2023 to March 2024, with the focus now shifting towards future iterations of this popular soccer management simulation.
While Football Manager may not boast the same mainstream recognition in the United States as other sports franchises like Madden, it has cultivated a loyal following among soccer enthusiasts. The series emphasizes in-depth roster management and scouting rather than direct gameplay, consistently releasing new editions at the end of each calendar year since 2004. The March delay was already an exception in the series’ history.
Notably, this year marks the first absence of a Football Manager release since its inception. The cancellation of such a highly anticipated title is rare in the sports gaming industry, where annual releases are customary. The team at Sports Interactive was reportedly executing extensive updates for Football Manager 25, including a complete overhaul of the interface and visuals, and the exciting addition of women’s soccer to the game.
Unfortunately, fans will need to wait for the next installment to experience these enhancements.
