Success series before the end
EA Sports indicates end of cooperation with FIFA
The probably last part of the successful gaming series “FIFA” appeared on October 1st for all game consoles (symbol picture)
© Jakub Porzycki / Picture Alliance
The FIFA titles have been among the most successful video games ever for many years. A few weeks ago, the latest part of the series appeared with FIFA 22. Now there is an indication: It could have been the last of its kind.
Every year, “FIFA” is a new part of the world’s largest and best-selling gaming sports simulation. Just recently, on October 1st, the newest title “FIFA 22” was released. Within a week, the Electronic Arts game catapulted to the top of the platform charts of Microsoft’s XBox and Sony’s Playstation. According to the market research company GFK Entertainment, it was “by far the most successful game start of the year so far”.
FIFA 22 is probably the last title in the successful series
In the hustle and bustle of the new Hypermotion features and online modes of “FIFA 22” it is now clear that it will probably be the last title in the traditional series. In a press release, EA Sports confirmed that the contract concluded in May 2013 between the game developer and the world football association FIFA will expire at the end of 2022. The two partners are united by a longstanding cooperation that goes back to 1993.
Nevertheless, it seems clear, at least at this point in time, that the signs by no means point to an extension. According to the industry magazine Golem, excessive demands by the officials could be a reason for the end. The game developer may simply want to position itself differently in the future. EA’s managing director Cam Weber will not have escaped the fact that the highly controversial World Cup in Qatar next winter could cast a negative light on the game.
EA also wants to publish soccer games in the future
Football fans and gamers can, however, breathe a sigh of relief. A football simulation from EA will in any case also appear in the coming year. With a view to the future, however, the idea of renaming the global EA Sports soccer games would have to be examined, according to Weber.
The expiring agreement between the developer and FIFA particularly revolves around license rights. EA emphasized, however, that they had signed their own contracts with the well-known professional leagues Uefa Champions League, Uefa Europa League, Conmebol Libertadores, Premier League, Bundesliga and La Liga Santander.
In addition, there are contracts with outside license partners that would enable access to “more than 17,000 athletes in over 700 teams, in 100 stadiums and over 30 leagues around the world”. The authenticity of upcoming games can therefore not be questioned.
Shareholders let EA course plunge into depth
Despite everything, the company’s attempts to appease the company fell on deaf ears with shareholders. Within a very short time after the press release was released, the EA share price fell by over five percent.
At EA Sports, on the other hand, they seem to be looking to the future with confidence. The focus would now be even more on the customer in order to create the “best gaming experience for football fans anywhere”. The name of an association that keeps getting negative in the headlines seems to be just an annoying appendage in view of the great success of the last few years.
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