Following the news that Electronic Arts is set to drop FIFA from its long-running football franchise (or soccer, depending on where you are) over the cost of retaining the license, FIFA has released a statement of its own to clarify matters. Simply put, it no longer wants EA to be the only one “controlling and exploiting all rights.” And it looks like the game publisher has more of an “all-or -nothing” approach given that EA is almost synonymous with FIFA in the video game world.
“Gaming and eSports are the fastest-growing media verticals on the planet, with new and diverse types of games launching continuously,” reads a statement. “It is therefore of crucial importance for FIFA and its stakeholders to maximize all future opportunities for football and gaming fans. FIFA also has a duty to support its 211 member associations to fully capitalize on the inherent opportunities that have been emerging over the recent years. The relationship and affinity that the gaming and eSports market has developed over time with the FIFA name clearly underscore that football-based gaming and the FIFA name are intrinsically intertwined.”
EA has been under fire over its handing of FIFA games and associated microtransactions in recent years. The company previously lost its monopoly over the Star Wars license following the disastrous launch of Star Wars Battlefront 2.
“FIFA has also determined that the overlaps between virtual sport and FIFA’s football competitions must be more closely aligned,” the statement concludes. “In this respect, FIFA is excited about using the FIFA World Cup (with four billion viewers) and FIFA Women’s World Cup (with an audience of 1.2 billion) as platforms to launch and integrate exciting new games and eSports offerings.”
End of an era!
[Source: FIFA]
