The Streak has ended: For the first 20 years, there's been a delay in a Football Manager game

Football Manager 25 will not be released in November. Sports Interactive, the developer of Football Manager 25, announced today that it has decided to delay the release to March 2025 after speaking with Sega and other "licensors" and partners.

Football Manager 25's problems began to surface in September, when Sports Interactive delayed announcing a specific release date until the end of the calendar month. The release date was then shifted from early November to late November. The studio stated that this was not enough to "ensure the game meets your expectations and our high standards".

The studio stated that "many things have moved slower than we predicted - even though everyone in the team worked at an incredible speed to get everything done." "Timelines were already tight, and as many of you pointed out in your recent comments, it was clear that we were rushing and risking compromising our standards. This has put a lot of pressure on all the staff in the studio who are passionately committed to making the best possible game.

"FM25 is the most technologically and visually advanced game in the series' history." We cannot rush to release this important moment in Football Manager history in November.

Football Manager 25's delay is unusual in one way: According to GamesRadar this is the first time ever in the history of the series, a Football Manager title will not be released in October or November. In the spirit "trust but verify", I decided to check it myself and sure enough, it's true.

Football manager 2005: November 4, 2004,

Football manager 2006: October 21, 2004

Football manager 2007: October 18, 2006.

Football manager 2008: October 18, 2007.

Football manager 2009: November 14, 2008.

Football manager 2010: October 30, 2009.

Football manager 2011: November 5, 2010.

Football manager 2012: October 21, 2011.

Football manager 2013: November 2, 2012.

Football manager 2014: October 30, 2013.

Football manager 2015: November 7, 2014.

Football manager 2016: November 13, 2015.

Football manager 2017: November 4, 2016.

Football manager 2018: November 10, 2017.

Football manager 2019: November 2, 2018.

Football manager 2020: November 18, 2019.

Football manager 2021: November 24, 2019

Football manager 2022: November 8, 2020

Football manager 2023: November 8, 2020

Football manager 2024: November 6, 2020

This is the equivalent to the end of Streak in Football Manager: a shocking, mournful moment which will resonate throughout the future of this franchise, sparking passionate debate and discussion for generations to follow.

(Okay, it's probably not as important a deal but it was a helluva run.)

Sports Interactive apologized for the disappointment caused by the delay and promised to reveal a new gameplay at the end January 2025. It also confirmed an "Advanced Access period" will be available before the new release date. Details will be shared once they have figured it out.