The Football Manager 2025 January debacle proves Sports Interactive needs to just skip a year

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As the clock ticked down to 17:00 on Friday, I think we all knew deep down that there would be no post or news regarding Football Manager 2025 from the official Football Manager account. The radio silence had stretched on for weeks, and it seemed inevitable that their promise of a gameplay reveal or an update was empty. From the sounds of it—and just through basic intuition—I fear the game is not in a good state.

Messages from trusted sources, combined with their extreme reluctance to show even the smallest glimpse of the game, suggest the game is nowhere near ready. And while that’s bitterly disappointing for long-time fans, it’s not even the biggest issue.

Football Manager 2025 has a serious lack of communication

Football Manager, as a franchise, has built up an enormous amount of goodwill over the years. For millions, it’s been a cherished part of growing up, a game that holds nothing but positive memories. Hell, when we talked to IRL striker Adam Le Fondre, we discovered that many a real-life footballer grows up playing the management sim.

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That’s why so many people sink hundreds of hours into it every year. That’s why, year after year, it boasts overwhelmingly positive user ratings. And that’s why, not too long ago, if you scrolled through the comments on the official Football Manager account, you’d struggle to find a single negative one even dating back to the worst games in the series.

A couple of years ago, saying you didn’t like Football Manager would have earned you a wave of pushback from passionate fans. But now? Sports Interactive has let all that goodwill slip away in just a matter of months. At first, the frustration was about the game being delayed. But now, all the anger is aimed at the complete lack of communication regarding Football Manager 2025.


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If they were open about the issues, keeping the fanbase informed about development struggles, there would be far more understanding. Not zero negativity, of course—but fans who love the game and the franchise would have been far more sympathetic.

It’s like when you messed up as a kid. Sure, your parents would be angry at first, but they’d still love you because you’re family. Right now, though, it feels like Sports Interactive has completely disowned us. I know that’s a simple analogy, but you get the point.

Lack of communication with creators

Beyond the lack of transparency with the general public, there’s also been a breakdown in communication with creators. Popular YouTubers like Doctor Benjy, who previously had strong relationships with Sports Interactive, have been left baffled by the silence. These content creators play a crucial role in keeping Football Manager relevant, bringing in thousands of new players every year.

“I’ve built an extremely healthy relationship with Sports Interactive over the last 10 years, as good as any content creator,” Benjy told everyone on Twitter. “I might be brave enough to say the best, and I don’t know anything, like…. actually nothing about why nothing has been said.”

In the past, Sports Interactive did a fantastic job of working with influencers and YouTubers to generate excitement around new releases. Football Manager 2025 should be promoted with its biggest creators detailing new features, talking with devs and helping fans learn more about the game.

That’s why it’s so confusing that they’ve suddenly stopped engaging with them. Ignoring your biggest advocates is a terrible strategy, especially when the game is already facing significant backlash. With thousands upon thousands of players waiting for any scrap of information, there’s a willing community around to help but, so far, nothing.

What they need to do going forward

First and foremost, they need to start communicating. They promised information in January, and they failed to deliver. Even if the game is experiencing major issues, they should at least keep fans in the loop about what’s happening. If they’ve already broken their January promise, how can we trust that FM25 will actually release in March? And if it does launch after the season has ended, as some rumors suggest, then many fans will be left wondering—what’s the point of buying it at all?

A potential solution, suggested by Work The Space, would be to release FM25 in March as an early access version and gradually refine it into a full 1.0 release in October or November. During the early access period, features like international management and draft mode could be made available for testing. This would also allow future FM titles to reflect their actual year of release rather than being outdated on arrival. A complete rebranding of the series—similar to the transition from Championship Manager to Football Manager—could be the refresh the franchise desperately needs.

Conclusion

Football Manager 2025 is at a crossroads. The lack of communication, both with the community and with creators, has done serious damage to the franchise’s reputation. The developers need to act fast to rebuild trust, whether through increased transparency, a clear release roadmap, or even a radical rebrand.

If Sports Interactive continues on its current path of silence, FM25 risks launching into an unenthusiastic and disillusioned player base. But if they can turn things around—if they can start treating their fans and content creators with the respect they deserve—then there’s still hope for Football Manager’s future.

Do you believe FM25 will actually release in March? And if it does, will you still be interested in buying it?

About the Author

William Reid

William is the admin of Out of Context Football Manager, an X account that focuses on FM news. He's worked for LADbible Group and is VG's resident FM expert.