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Football Manager 25 Release Date: Why It Was Cancelled and What FM26 Delivered

Football Manager 25 was cancelled in February 2025, not delayed to a new launch date. Here’s why, how pre-orders were handled, and what FM26 replaced it with.
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Football Manager 25 was cancelled and never released. Sports Interactive announced the cancellation on February 6, 2025, saying the game had not met its standards for the player experience and interface. The released successor is Football Manager 26: SEGA launched it on November 5, 2025, with the Nintendo Switch edition following on December 4.

Was Football Manager 25 cancelled?

Yes. Sports Interactive and SEGA cancelled Football Manager 25 on February 6, 2025. The studio said the game had fallen short in important areas despite delays and extensive work, particularly in the overall player experience and interface. It did not announce another FM25 release date: all versions were cancelled, and FM25 was not released on any platform. Sports Interactive’s cancellation announcement explains that it did not want to ship the game in its then-current state and attempt to fix it later. It also considered a launch beyond March too late in the football season, given the expected timing of the next annual release.

What happened to the FM25 release date?

FM25 had already been delayed twice before its cancellation. Any dates previously announced for the game became obsolete when Sports Interactive cancelled it; a reported or rumored date should not be mistaken for a release date. There was no later FM25 launch date, because the game was shelved rather than delayed again.

Players who pre-ordered through an official SEGA-approved retailer were due an automatic full refund, according to the cancellation FAQ. Customers with refund questions were directed to the retailer where they bought the game. Sports Interactive also said it would not release an FM24 update with 2024/25 season data, because producing one would divert resources from the next game. The official FAQ covers both points.

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When did Football Manager 26 come out?

Football Manager 26 is the released successor to FM25. SEGA announced a November 5, 2025 launch for most editions and platforms; the Nintendo Switch edition followed on December 4, 2025. SEGA’s September 2025 announcement set out the planned dates, and its November launch announcement confirmed the game was out.

What platforms and editions is FM26 available on?

FM26 launched across PC, console, handheld, and mobile editions. The editions are tailored to their platforms, so features and save compatibility are not identical. The official launch page distinguishes PC/Mac, Console, Touch, and Mobile.

Edition Platforms or distribution Launch timing
PC/Mac PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Windows; Mac November 5, 2025
Console PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S November 5, 2025
Touch Nintendo Switch and Apple Arcade Switch: December 4, 2025; Apple Arcade availability is listed in the launch lineup
Mobile Netflix-exclusive November 5, 2025 launch lineup

The platform and edition lineup is described in Sports Interactive’s launch announcement. Its overview does not make the editions interchangeable: check the product page for the platform you intend to play.

What was new in Football Manager 26?

SEGA presented FM26 as a major technical and visual change for the series. Its announced features include:

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  • Unity engine: the main game moved to Unity.
  • Redesigned interface: the navigation and presentation were reworked.
  • Premier League license: the English league received official licensing.
  • Women’s football: the series added women’s football for the first time. SEGA’s launch announcement lists 14 women’s leagues across 11 countries and three continents.
  • More detailed tactics: managers can set separate “In Possession” and “Out of Possession” formations, with an on-screen Visualiser showing tactical shape.

These are features described by the publisher, not an independent assessment of performance or quality. They are detailed in SEGA’s FM26 announcement and its launch information.

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Can you transfer a save from FM24 or FM23?

Save compatibility depends on the edition. SEGA said the main game, Console, and Touch editions it described support career saves from FM24 and FM23. Mobile is narrower: only FM24 Mobile careers are compatible. Confirm the exact edition’s requirements before starting or importing a career; the rules for one edition do not apply to all versions. SEGA’s announcement gives the compatibility details.

How much does FM26 cost, and is there an FM25 PS5 disc?

FM25 has no physical or digital edition because it was cancelled. SEGA’s November 2025 product information lists a physical PS5 edition of Football Manager 26, the successor—not FM25. It establishes that the edition exists, but not whether a particular retailer currently has stock, what it costs in your region, or whether an Amazon listing is active.

The same SEGA product information gives Japan-market suggested retail prices including tax: ¥7,990 for FM26 PC/Mac, ¥7,990 for FM26 Console, and ¥5,990 for FM26 Touch on Nintendo Switch. These are Japan-specific figures published in 2025, not current worldwide prices or live discounts. It also lists physical and digital editions of Switch Touch. SEGA’s launch product information is the source for the editions and amounts. Check a local retailer for current regional availability and price.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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