We’ll never understand how the deal behind EA Sports FIFA fell apart so quickly.
After spending 30 years together, spanning back to the days of the Sega Genesis, EA Sports confirmed back in May that its partnership with the soccer league would come to an end with this year’s release of EA Sports FIFA 23. As a result, the company will move forward with a new name, EA Sports Football Club, starting next year. Meanwhile, FIFA has announced its own plans to make a game, though details are scarce at the moment.
The deal has become a massive success for both parties, as each annual FIFA game released by EA Sports has sold millions of units, even topping the mighty Madden NFL during some years due to worldwide appeal.
“It is — and remains — one of the most popular franchises in all of gaming,” said Tom Wijman of Newzoo.
So why did the deal come to an end? Especially after selling more than 325 million units and making more than $20 billion in sales, between core game sales and microtransactions? Well, that’s just the thing – it’s all about the money.
The companies spent several months attempting to negotiate a new licensing agreement, but it appears neither were willing to budge when it came to what money could be earned between them. We’re not sure which side was greedier with their demands, but, overall, it ended up fizzling out because of that.
FIFA has a huge stranglehold on the soccer market, especially with its popular World Cup taking place in Qatar at the moment. So its presence in video games is no doubt felt, with people uttering its name alongside EA Sports like they simply go together.
And EA had no shortage of money either, generating $5.6 billion last year and likely to have a similar amount this year with its popular sports franchises – and, yes, FIFA 23 will play a focal part in that.
So what will happen now? Obviously neither side wants to renegotiate for a better fee. Well, EA Sports will do its own thing with Football Club, while FIFA tries its luck on its own. But who’s
better off?
Possibly EA Sports, it seems. Their expertise in development has proven that they can continue to make a strong soccer game, even without the FIFA license. And they can still use player names and competitions that aren’t FIFA related, including the English Premier League. That opens up all sorts of possibilities when it comes to its Football Club in 2023. FIFA, however, isn’t so lucky. It now has to work with an entirely new developer with its own set-up and engine, something that will be much different from what EA Sports did. As a result, it will likely lead to a lesser game – at least, at first. And who knows for how many years after, until it finally finds its, ahem, footing.
Remember, a change in soccer games isn’t always for the better. Konami learned this the hard way when it recrafted its best-selling International Superstar Soccer franchise into a free-to-play format, resulting in bogged down servers, lackluster visuals, and a mega-amount of microtransactions. FIFA may not be so lucky when it comes to nailing down format.
Alas, the deal is done. Could something have saved it? Yep. EA Sports and FIFA could’ve easily reached a monetary compromise where each party could’ve gotten something from the game – and made millions. But we’re guessing that, with them being as stubborn as they are, it just wasn’t in the cards.
Where we’ll go from here has yet to be seen. But it’s the end of an era for FIFA and EA Sports; and it’ll be interesting – and far less from the same that we’ve been used to – from hereon in.
Want to win a new console to play FIFA 23 on? We can help with that with our giveaway!
