FIFA is ancient history for Electronic Arts which launched EA Sports FC 24. A profitable choice or a disastrous decision for the publisher? First part of the answer.
You probably knew about it or perhaps noticed it when you went to buy your annual FIFA, but the cult license is no more. Following a disagreement between Electronic Arts and the official football federation, the publisher did not renew the partnership. A story of big money and constraints which gave life to EA Sports FC 24. And against all expectations, football fans may not have deserted.
FIFA is dead, long live EA Sports FC 24
Why abandon the FIFA brand, known throughout the world, after more than 30 years? Electronic Arts felt too stifled and the weight of such a name had become too much to bear. According to the publisher, the restrictions imposed (the addition of brands, new modes, etc.) were much more important than the benefits derived from the use of this title.
“The FIFA license stopped us from doing a lot of things like that. Again, FIFA is just the name on the box, but it has prohibited us from expanding into areas that players want. Basically, the only benefit we get from FIFA when there’s no World Cup is four letters on a box, at a time when most people don’t even see the cover anymore because they buy the game digitally » said Andrew Wilson, the boss of Electronic Arts.
As a result, the company has made the bet to continue producing huge football games, but under the name EA Sports FC 24. And for a first try, it is very conclusive. During the week of its release, the game attracted 11.3 million players compared to 10.3 million for FIFA 23. An increase of “20% compared to last year” specifies Electronic Arts regarding the attendance of EA Sports FC 24.
Sales figures to communicate? Not really !
Electronic Arts has chosen to communicate the number of EA Sports FC 24 users, but not sales. In addition, the result must also be qualified a little to the extent that the free trial, available in EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, is compatible here. Still, on the publisher’s side, we are very satisfied and this is only the beginning.
“In addition to welcoming millions of long-time players, newcomers are up 20% year over year. This shows the enthusiasm of football fans to join the club. We’re building the largest soccer community across EA Sports FC, and this is just the beginning.” (via Gameindustry). The lack of renewal has obviously not tainted the publisher’s ambitions.