FIFA is one of the world's most popular video game brands, with the famous football series selling millions each year since it began, way back in 1993.
That's why it was such a shock to hear that EA was "exploring the idea of renaming" the franchise; why would you change the name of such a recognisable brand? Well, if a report by The New York Times is correct, it's down to a pretty predictable reason: money.
The outlet reports that the current ten-year deal between EA and FIFA comes to an end next year, and the two are, at the time of writing, trying to nail down the details of what the new deal will entail. FIFA – which stands for Fédération Internationale de Football Association, in case you were wondering – is reported to be demanding "more than double" the current cost of the licence; that would bring it to "more than $1 billion for each four-year World Cup cycle".
This might seem greedy, but it's worth noting that since the last deal was signed back in 2012, the mechanics behind the way EA makes money from FIFA have changed dramatically. FIFA's Ultimate Team mode, which focuses on in-game microtransactions, made up the majority of the $1.62bn EA earned in all Ultimate Team modes across its range of sports titles in 2021. Back in 2015, the figure was $587m.
FIFA will naturally be aware of this – and the rise of eSports events featuring the FIFA video game brand – and is understandably of the opinion that the name is now worth more to EA than it was back in 2012 when the previous version of the agreement was signed.
On that topic, another sticking point is that the two companies cannot agree on precisely what the new deal should cover. EA wants to expand its use of the FIFA licence to cover the aforementioned video game tournaments as well as look at emerging digital products, like NFTs. However, FIFA is also keen to explore these opportunities – but on its own terms, rather than via EA's series.
The end result might be that there's no agreement made, and that EA does exactly what it says it has been considering and re-names one of the most famous video game franchises of all time – which means we could see a future where neither PES nor FIFA exist in video game form.
Still, when you consider that we gave FIFA 22 a shameful 2/10, it might be that most Switch fans aren't really bothered; no matter what the name is on the box, 2022's version of the game will most likely be a legacy edition on Nintendo's console anyway.
[source nytimes.com, via eurogamer.net]
Comments 50
FIFA has been become so damn corrupt in the last 3 decades. They don't care about the sport anymore. It is all about money. Both players and fans suffer from their decisions.
and EA...well I guess we all know why they suck
The battle of the money grabbing organisations.
Whatever the outcome, the only losers will be us.
I called this is the comments a couple of days ago! And sorry I have to gloat a little because I am not very often right!!!
On the positive outcome, this means Fifa as a game series is dead and EA loses the brand recognition they need to drive pay to win sales
Can’t wait for EA to bring out Madden Soccer 2023.
So basically the fifa football games could cease to exist, though switch owners won't notice
Two of the worst corporate entities are duking it out.
Whoever loses, we all win.
Maybe they’ll have get older players to endorse, who are not part of FIFA, like a Becksy. They could call it “Legacy Edition” ……….
You’d think that EA could easily afford it considering how much money they’ve saved over three years for doing bugger-all for the Switch versions.
@SamirMalik FIFA is dead as video game? You forgot to tell that for the millions thay brought the latest iteration released in September.
It got first place in most territories and still there in many of them.
Haha, one giant corrupt conglomerate eating another one. We should all just grab our popcorn and enjoy the fireworks.
@abdias hence why I didn't tell anyone
@abdias You really got what he said incorrect. He is saying FIFA will be dead as far as EA's FIFA is concerned. Context means everything. At that, I'm sure EA will cough up the cash and pass that cost onto the fans of the game. Glad I hate sports games!
When you hate both and cant wait for them to kill each other
EA will pay. They dont really have a choice if they want the official name and leagues. So glad i dont buy this drivel. 2 money hungry companies going at it. I wouldnt usually find entertainment out of this but im sure i can muster up some for these 2 companies.
Remember these words. They won't pay. EA already have over 300 contracts with clubs and players. They have the Champions League and the national tournaments like Premier, serie A etc. Will only mean for them to lose the name and the world cup, that's it. 100% they'll have a change of name.
@Kidfunkadelic83 you are completely wrong. EA Pay for the league's direct and has nothing to do with the FIFA license. They also pay Fifpro for player likeness which is a complete separate deal with they have already renewed.
FIFA are delusional if they think EA or any other publisher will pay what they want. EA won't pay this. More likely they walk away and instead pay for the FIFA license every 4 years for use in world cup update to the main new EA football games. Will cost EA far less and FIFA will be eager for deal when they have seen nobody is paying what they want for the FIFA license.
@Sunanootoko @kobashi100 i didnt know that EA had access to that much. Thanks for the clarification.
I wonder if the proposed legal action about use of players stats will have an impact? https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/oct/12/hundreds-of-professional-footballers-threaten-action-against-betting-companies
@Slowdive welcome back buddy, I’ve only just seen you’ve returned 😊
"which means we could see a future where neither PES nor FIFA exist in video game form". I wouldn't bet on that. PES's finest years were the ones when it had virtually no licences for anything.
EA will pay, drive up the cost, and ramp up the microtransactions. And the millions will buy into it again... Sad times we live in.
Maybe FIFA should tell EA they can either pay the full billion, or pay 100k or 1M for chances to win the rights to use random brands of different values (more chances depending which package they pay for), one of which could possibly be FIFA. That would be completely fair and transparent and be an accurate reflection of a game of football.
@JohnnyC Comment of the year, for me. So perfect.
These two groups have one of the dirtiest franchises in video games. Any Football/Soccer fan who wants to play with real teams and player lists needs them. They have virtually guaranteed profits.
Yet they can't agree???
all I can see is that EA will stump up the money, FIFA will greedily take it, and we will keep seeing FIFA games year upon year. Nothing will change apart from the amount of money being splashed around. I for one will take fake names on a football game if the game is any good
@scottishwildcat PES is already technically gone though, its called eFootball now
@oconnoclast that's pretty much the extent of my knowledge on FIFA and the games. Not a football fan but it breaks my heart seeing my nephews only play FIFA and Fortnite rather than the expansive library and different genres their uncle plays, I'll give anything a shot but yearly sports games are just utterly dull.
I think most switch users hate EA, also everyone on the planet
@MightyDemon82 That moment when I've been working hard for an Xbox Series X, and i see all of my friends getting them only to play Fifa ._.
@Edwirichuu Yes I know what you mean, but with all the people I know who have series X or PS5 are all playing FIFA and here's me struggling to decide what's next in the backlog to play.
Hopefully they both lose big on this. FIFA from not getting the fee and EA losing sales and microtransactions from loss of branding.
@Dethmunk well it always worked wit ISS on the N64. No licensing but amazing games.
EA will have to strike a deal.
Good luck to them securing 10 years again. FIFA aren't stupid - they know they got mugged in the last agreement, and they'll be wanting a more regular review going forward.
EA without the FIFA license will not work out. FIFA has some good gameplay mechanics, obviously, but they're naive if they think 1. Anywhere near as many people will buy a game without their favourite players and teams and 2. FIFA won't immideiately sell the license to another developer who are happy to splash the cash. 3. That they can churn out a new game every year when club, kits and player updates are all irrelevant. Good luck with that EA!
I just hope they both lose somehow.
@MightyDemon82 I've always had a diverse genre of games, but used to have FIFA in rotation too - not every year, but usually every 2 or 3 and certainly with a new console generation. Thing is, Vita and Switch editions opened my eyes to the fact the games are just one big algorithm - an algorithm that at times you cannot play against.
People go on about how FIFA and the microtransactions are bad, but you don't hear many talking about the algorithms of the gameplay. The two elements combined and working with each other...? Dangerous and highly profitable - and blatantly something EA does.
So yes, breaks my heart too!!
Even publishers aren't safe from subscription cost bumps.😄
@syrupdash Eeeexxxxxcuse me sir, "Football", please.
They filed "EA Sports FC". Pretty okay name to me.
@nocdaes breaking up with FIFA doesn't mean the loss of all licenses. They can still make deals with the individual leagues, like PES does, it's just more work to do.
But yeah, EA FIFA without lisenses would suck.
@HenHiro
They already have it. More than 300 single contracts with national federation, teams and players. Guaranteed they won't pay. Will lose the world cup but still can do all the eufa tournaments and the national's one.
@Sunanootoko yes but that's not all their lisenses, as far as I know, many are still tied to FIFPro.
Wait is FIFPro related to the FIFA or not?
With the potential loss of branding, I'm interested in seeing where this will go.
I always regarded EA's FIFA games, at least the "Legacy Editions," to be just overglorified soccer/football merchandise. Europeans keep eating this up without considering how much of the same game they are getting each year, just like with any regular football merchandise.
At least with a game like Just Dance, there's a reason to buy new games each year because there are always going to be different songs and it's not always cheap with the amount of contracts and licenses Ubisoft has to go through, so it's very understandable.
CoD, on the other hand, mechanically changes every two or three years and that's how it really stays fresh. Even if it's not much, there's enough changes made to differentiate each CoD game.
With FIFA Legacy, EA's just slapping on new coats of paint without giving the games a second thought.
So, here's hoping that loss of branding means something. If EA doesn't want to pay up and go with some arbitrary, left-field title, then I'm gonna be looking at how those sales go.
Like epic Vs apple I don't feel sorry for either of these greedy corporations
As much as I would love to see EA lose the FIFA license, they can't afford to not have it when it's their biggest moneymaker. Either EA pays up or they work on a deal with FIFA that guarantees it'll screw the consumers even more than before.
This is really sad. It's also not the first time we've scene this. The NFL and MLB has been doing this for years! We used to get great NFL games other then Madden. The competition really took NFL games to another level because developers had to earn our money. Now, there's exclusive deals that limit creativity with development because there's no reason to spend the hours and money on the design or perfection of features.
Anyone else miss the 2K football games? How about MLB games on other systems besides Sony?
FIFA and uefa are so corrupt and greedy I’d like to see ea shun this licence.
Having said that I reckon ea themselves are bluffing by saying they’re exploring other names to scare fifa into dropping the price…
I say get Blizzard involved somehow and let them turn it into a Mexican standoff, Reservoir Dogs style.
Just pay it. It’s not worth the headache and loss of brand recognition.
EA and FIFA in a ‘Greed off’ is quite the prospect. Like a horrible epicentre of something unpleasant. Can they both lose please?
Put two greedy entities that are stubborn in a room and it’s not a surprise that a compromise is not immediately reached
No sympathy for such a greedy and lazy company
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