Although FIFA 23 will be the final game in the EA Sports FIFA series, the video game industry is far from over.
EA Sports and FIFA confirmed in May that their over 20-year partnership would end in the summer of 2023.
The two parties have been trying to enhance their existing cooperation for months, but they are yet to settle on future terms. EA Sports and FIFA agreed to extend the present agreement through the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July and August 2023 to add one final edition, even though it expires after the 2022 World Cup.
The EA Sports FIFA series will end with FIFA 23, but the video game business is far from dead.
The over 20-year cooperation between EA Sports and FIFA will come to an end in the summer of 2023, the parties announced in May.
Even though the current agreement expires after the 2022 World Cup, EA Sports and FIFA agreed to extend it through the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July and August 2023 to add one final edition.
Why did FIFA and EA Sports split?
There are a few reasons why a compromise between the two parties could not be reached, according to a report by Tariq Panja of the New York Times.
According to the source, FIFA wanted to restrict the license and treble the current licensing fee ($150 million yearly) to pursue collaborations with other video game companies utilizing the “FIFA” name. EA Sports opted out of the plan.
According to a separate New York Times source, EA Sports wanted to investigate further developing the game under the “FIFA” name, including the inclusion of real game highlights and new digital items like NFTs.
The new name: EA Sports FC
The most recent FIFA 23 game will end the two organizations’ collaboration.
All upcoming games will stop using the FIFA name or branding after this release, and the World Cup will stop being a part of it as an official FIFA event. The game will be called EA Sports FC now.
“EA SPORTS FC will enable us to actualize this potential and much more,” EA Sports claimed in an official release. “But not before we deliver our most expansive game with our current naming rights partner, FIFA, for one more year.” As part of our dedication to creating our best game, the forthcoming FIFA will include more game modes, World Cup content, clubs, leagues, and competitions than any previous edition.
What will be different about EA Sports FC?
Apart from the name, not much is anticipated to change about the new version.
Despite losing the FIFA brand, player names, teams, and competitions may still be found in-game thanks to EA Sports’ separate agreements with 300 clubs and leagues worldwide.
The same fantastic experiences, modes, leagues, tournaments, clubs, and athletes will all be there in EA SPORTS FC, according to a statement from EA Sports. “There will be VOLTA Football, Ultimate Team, Career Mode, Pro Clubs, all of those. Our distinctive license portfolio, which includes more than 19,000 players, 700 teams, 100 stadiums, and 30 leagues, will still be included in EA SPORTS FC. This includes special deals with the MLS, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, Premier League, and more.”
Many of those leagues have stated emphatically that they will continue working with EA Sports. One league with its licensing agreement is the Premier League. Its CEO Richard Masters clarified the future: ” the Premier League has valuable and long-standing relationships with EA Sports, and we look forward to our continued collaboration.
EA Sports FC will feature the UEFA Champions League branding thanks to a licensing agreement with the European regulatory organization UEFA.
With FIFA’s demise, only license related to national teams and the World Cup remains. Despite the separation of complete game branding, there is still a good chance that EA Sports and FIFA can obtain a licensing agreement.
After the two companies announced their separation, EA Sports CEO Andrew Wilson stated, “We’d love to continue to promote the World Cup through the game,” implying that a smaller deal for future branding might still be reached.
