When the shocking news dropped that EA Sports and FIFA were ending their nearly 30-year-long partnership, we all thought that was the end of the FIFA series as we know it.
But thankfully according to FIFA themselves, that won’t be the case.
EA Sports announced this week that they would be changing the name of everyone’s favourite (or most hated) football game to EA Sports FC.
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The move was the result of EA no longer having the rights to the FIFA license, with FIFA 23 set to be the final game of the series that began with FIFA International Soccer in 1993.
However, while EA may no longer be involved, it might not actually be the last ever FIFA game produced.
While EA Sports FC has reassured fans that the game will remain pretty much the same, minus the ‘FIFA’ name attachment and a few licensing issues, FIFA themselves have said they are shopping around for a new studio.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed they would be creating their own video game to rival EA’s product.
In a statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed said: “I can assure you that the only authentic, real game that has the FIFA name will be the best one available for gamers and football fans.
"The FIFA name is the only global, original title. FIFA 23, FIFA 24, FIFA 25 and FIFA 26, and so on - the constant is the FIFA name and it will remain forever and remain THE BEST.
A hard task considering the reputation EA has built with their FIFA series, which boasts cornerstone game modes such as Career Mode and Ultimate Team.
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EA Sports has been granted a short-term extension for FIFA 23, which will feature men’s and women’s World Cup competitions, however, the arrangement will involve a limited license.
FIFA claims that the non-exclusive license means they have the opportunity to develop different gaming experiences with different publishers.
They say they are currently engaging with a mass of gaming companies for the development of FIFA 24 and beyond.
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EA Sports vice-president David Jackson says EA were limited with their output due to the license agreement with FIFA
He told the BBC: “In the future, our players will demand of us the ability to be more expansive in that offering. At the moment, we engage in play as a primary form of interactive experience.
"Soon, watching and creating content are going to be equally as important for fans.
"Under the licensing conventions that we had agreed with FIFA 10 years ago, there were some restrictions that weren't going to allow us to be able to build those experiences for players."
Jayden Collins