Following a difficult hiatus, a beloved sports simulation franchise is poised to make its comeback: Sports Interactive has officially unveiled Football Manager 26.

SEE ALSO: ‘Football Manager 25′ scrapped shortly before its intended release

The announcement trailer, published on Wednesday, offers minimal information but gives a glimpse of the in-game match day visuals. This signifies the series’ relaunch after Football Manager 25 was unexpectedly halted in February due to multiple delays that extended beyond its customary November launch. It marks the first occasion in over three decades that a Football Manager or Championship Manager title has not met its annual schedule.

Sports Interactive pointed to various factors for FM25’s termination, mainly the shift to Unreal Engine and the introduction of women’s football for the first time within the series. Prior to its cancellation, the studio outlined a preliminary development roadmap for FM25 in blog entries, but initial fan responses to the revamped appearance were at best, tepid.

There is still no confirmed release date for FM26, nor clarity on whether the user interface will keep its pre-hiatus style. Nonetheless, the trailer hints at a more comprehensive first look at the refreshed match day experience arriving soon.