The best-selling sports video game franchise FIFA will be known as EA Sports FC from July 2023. It marks the end of an era, and also offers a chance to appreciate its legacy so far.
EA Sports has officially announced that it will be rebranding its FIFA video game series to EA Sports FC in July 2023. This announcement comes after reports of disagreement between FIFA and EA over naming rights fees for the future. EA also confirmed that it was considering a name change after filing the EA Sports FC name in 2021.
The rebrand marks the end of a nearly 30-year partnership between the football governing body and EA.
While EA and FIFA will both go their ways, the duo will work together one last time to produce the most expansive this year. The news comes just over a week since EA announced plans for FIFA Cross-Play later this year.
We are committed to ensuring the next FIFA is our best ever" the EA team said. Plans for the upcoming FIFA 23 include World Cup content, more features and game modes than any other previous FIFA titles.
What to expect in EA Sports FC
EA Sports FC will become EA's new football franchise game with over 300 of its licensee partners joining in. The game developers plan to ensure that the new game is 'a symbol of change' for global football. The game will still have the ultimate team, career mode, volta football as well pro clubs.
Additionally, the new game will contain over 19,000 players, 700 teams, 100 stadiums and 30 leagues. It will also include the exclusive partnerships with the Premier League, Bundesliga, the MLS, Serie A and LaLiga.
EA SPORTS represents the pinnacle of interactive football experiences today and for the future, and we’re honored to continue working with them, as we have for more than 20 years, We are committed to partnering with EA SPORTS FC to provide an innovative and authentic experience and to grow the love of football together, around the world and for years to come.”
Other partner representatives including UEFA, COMMEBOL and Nike also expressed their support for the new name and vision.
How old is the FIFA series?
The first FIFA game was entitled FIFA International Soccer and was released back in 1993. A new FIFA game in the main series has been released every year ever since, meaning the arrival of EA Sports FC marks the end of three decades of FIFA games. Over the years EA has also released other FIFA products such as the FIFA Street and FIFA Manager series.
Quick facts
- First FIFA game: FIFA International Soccer (1993)
- Last FIFA game: FIFA 23 (2023)
- The FIFA series is the 7th best-selling video game franchise of all time
- It is estimated the FIFA Series has sold more than 325 million copies
EA has also released FIFA Manager (1997 to 2014) and FIFA Street (2005,2006,2008 and 2012).
EA will release more information on EA Sports FC as the release date draws nearer.