After nearly three decades of creating one of the most successful and noteworthy sports games, FIFA and Electronic Arts are terminating their partnership. The two sides were unfortunately unable to arrive at a deal to extend the partnership after months of negotiations.
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The current deal between EA and FIFA will end following next summer’s Women’s World Cup, though it was initially scheduled to end after this year’s Qatar World Cup. FIFA 23 will be the final game under the original partnership.
FIFA and EA bridged the world of football and gaming in 1993 with FIFA Internal Soccer on the Sega Mega Drive. As of 2021, the FIFA franchise has sold over 325 million copies, becoming the highest-selling sports video game in the world. So what does this mean for diehard FIFA gamers? Thankfully, EA’s beloved football series isn’t going anywhere. Well, not all of it, that is.
Starting in 2023, gamers will see a new branding for the series – EA Sports FC. The new affiliation promises not to change the core aspects of the game. EA confirmed that all the same game modes, tournaments, clubs, football leagues, and athletes will remain in EA Sports FC. Many of the world’s famous football stars and clubs will still be playable because of separate licensing deals and partnerships with Premier League, LaLiga, MLS, etc. However, specific FIFA-controlled events – such as the World Cup – will not be playable in future games.
EA also noted a desire to continue to expand its offering despite losing FIFA as a partner. In a press release, EA said “we exist to create the future of football fandom – whether virtual or real, digital or physical, it’s football.” Further, the company plans to reveal additional information about EA Sports FC in June 2023.
As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below! Lastly, in case you missed it, Sony Turns Playstation Plus into Subscription Games Service.
