FIFA franchise at an end – EA Games stamps new title out of the ground

That’s it with FIFA 24, 25 and so on. EA and FIFA are ending their collaboration. From July 2023, the football simulation will not only have a new name.

Redwood City, California – There have been rumors for a long time that game developers EA and FIFA want to go their separate ways. It has now been officially announced that EA and FIFA will no longer work together from 2023. However, the separation does not stop EA from developing a new football game of its own, called EA Sports FC, starting in 2023. The football association FIFA also wants to publish its own football game.

FIFA over: EA Sports FC takes over – but what happens until July 2023?

After almost 30 years, the era of what is probably the most popular and controversial football simulation ends. However, EA emphasizes that the game itself will not change fundamentally for the time being. On your website they write: “Everything you love about our games will be part of EA SPORTS FC – the same great experiences, modes, leagues, tournaments, clubs and athletes will be there. Ultimate Team, Career Mode, Pro Clubs and VOLTA Football will all be there.” Everything sounds the same at first, but a few changes are imminent.

This is known so far: Despite the split, there will be a new FIFA game this fall. According to a press release from EA, they have big plans for FIFA 23 again. They want to develop the largest and most comprehensive EA Sports FIFA ever with the football association at the end of the cooperation. This means there will be more game modes, features, teams, leagues, players and competitions than previous FIFA titles. In addition, EA emphasizes that the launch of EA Sports FC will have no impact on current EA Sports soccer games.

The CEO of Electronic Arts also commented on the future of the new football brand: “Our vision for EA SPORTS FC is to create the largest and most influential soccer club in the world at the epicenter of the soccer fan scene.” Unfortunately, what lies behind the founding of the football club is not explained in more detail. All that is known is that EA also wants to focus more on women’s and grassroots football.

EA Sports FC pounded out of the ground: but why are EA and FIFA separating?

Money as reason for separation: For EA, the separation from the FIFA license seems to be a liberation as it brought with it some certain creative limitations. In the future it should be possible to integrate more creative content into the new football simulation and make new commercial partnerships possible. EA Vice President David Jackson says in an interview with the BBC that the FIFA deal negotiated 10 years ago brought restrictions that limited development.

EA probably didn’t have the opportunity to allow players to create their own content or watch trailers in their own cinema mode. It would be comparable to the self-made maps and game modes in Fortnite. In addition, the deal with FIFA probably ended because of money, which is not the main reason for the separation. Because the world association had increased the price for the license to one billion dollars. The price is not due annually, but is adapted to the rhythm of the world championship, which takes place every four years.

FIFA continues anyway: The world association FIFA would like to develop its own FIFA football game with a new developer studio as a competitor to EA Sports FC, which probably shouldn’t be a simulation. Particularly impressive: Major football clubs are strengthening EA Sports FC and have already announced that they will continue to work with Electronic Arts. These include Real Madrid, Liverpool FC, Borussia Dortmund and Toronto FC.

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