The association is already planning for the time after EA: In the future, they want to bring different partners on board. The next few years could be exciting.
Ernie and Bert, Frodo and Sam, Laurel and Hardy, EA and FIFA – there are partnerships that are like a rock in the surf. Even if everything goes down the drain, these duos give you the feeling that the world still works somehow.
But the threat of divorce between EA and the World Football Association is taking on more and more concrete features. After the publisher has recently made it relatively clear that they no longer want to pay for the cost-intensive licence, and has already submitted a new trademark entry for the series, FIFA is now also speaking out.
It is to be hoped that the impending divorce will benefit the series in terms of quality. Because FIFA 22 was a bitter disappointment:
FIFA 22 in the PC test: The lowest rating in the series history
Broader focus in gaming sector planned
FIFA has released a new statement on the future of video games and eSports. Although EA is not mentioned by name at any time, it is clear between the lines that the plans of the former long-term partner have been met with disgruntlement.
They are optimistic about the long-term future of gaming and eSports after a comprehensive and strategic evaluation of the market. It then goes on to make it even clearer: the future of gaming and eSports for football players should not come from just one party controlling and exploiting all the rights.
They are therefore now working with numerous partners from the industry to create a long-term perspective for the gaming, eSports and entertainment sector. In plain language: In the future, FIFA will award its licensing blessings to several studios instead of just EA as before. This is likely to extend to the mobile segment as well as the PC and console markets.
Not a foregone conclusion for either side
Now you could argue that without EA, FIFA is back to square one for now and has nothing playable in hand. But EA has also suffered a loss, namely the prestigious men’s and women’s World Cups. Although the licences with the regional clubs are just as important, one should not underestimate the drawing power of the official World Cups.
So both sides have to accept losses in the split, which is why it might be difficult to pick a clear winner or loser at the moment. But one thing is already certain: the coming years are likely to be more interesting for friends of the digital turf than the past, when there was no real competition apart from FIFA.
For the once glorious rival Pro Evolution Soccer, as is well known, has recently been given the name eFootball 2022 – and is, there’s no other way to put it, an absolute disaster. After all, the game received one of the lowest ratings in recent years.
What do you think of FIFA’s statement? Do you like the idea that in the future official FIFA games will be released by different developers or do you mourn the EA partnership?
