The FIFA football video game series, which was named after nearly 30 years ago, has changed its name. From 2023, it will be called EA SPORTS FC. US publisher Electronic Arts, which made it easier by acquiring the name of its subsidiary EA Sports, formalized the change on Tuesday, which had been expected for several months.
This decision came as a result of the non-renewal of the license granted by FIFA to Electronic Arts. The current contract, signed in 2013, expires in December 2022. According to the American press, the governing body of world football received 85 million euros annually for the exploitation of its trademark.
France’s best-selling cultural property
“We are grateful for many years of an excellent partnership with FIFA,” said Andrew Wilson, CEO of Electronic Arts, in a press release. We have a fantastic opportunity to put EA SPORTS FC at the center of the sport and deliver more creative and authentic experiences to a growing football audience.”
The revolution stops at the name for now, or so Electronic Arts promised, saying there would be no “impact” on the games. Even if the FIFA license is not renewed, users will still be able to enjoy the real names of the 700 teams and 19,000 footballers included in the database, but also the original kits of many European (UEFA) and South American (Conmebol) competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League and Cuba Libertadores.
Shortly after the Electronic Arts announcement, many clubs turned to social media to ensure their presence in the game, such as Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. In addition, partnerships with the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A have been confirmed.
FIFA has established itself as France’s best-selling cultural asset. In 2020, at least 1.3 million copies of FIFA 21 were sold in France. Globally, the numbers are just as important. Just one week after the release of FIFA 22, the latest game in the series, Electronic Arts had 9.1 million players.
