FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, is reportedly in talks with sports video game giant 2K to develop a new soccer simulation game. This comes after FIFA ended its 30-year partnership with EA in 2022.
For decades, FIFA games developed by EA have generated over $20 billion in revenue. However, FIFA decided to rebrand and demanded $1 billion every four years to license its properties, which EA rejected. As a result, EA created their own game, EA FC 24, using their Frostbite game engine and exclusive partnership rights with top soccer leagues.
Despite losing its partnership with EA, FIFA is now rumored to be partnering with 2K to create an officially-licensed FIFA game. This would be 2K's first soccer game, as they have previously developed games in other sports such as hockey, wrestling, basketball, baseball, football, boxing, and tennis.
In the soccer simulation market, EA has not faced much competition. Pro Evolution Soccer (now rebranded as E Football) has been around for years but has not achieved the same level of success. Football Manager, another popular soccer game, caters to a different audience and market than EA FC 24.
If the rumors are true, the battle for licensing rights will be interesting. PES has exclusive deals with major clubs like AC Milan, Inter Milan, Roma, and Napoli. A partnership between FIFA and 2K could potentially put EA's coveted deals in danger. However, it is important to wait for official confirmation before drawing any conclusions.
FIFA's potential partnership with 2K for a new soccer sim game marks a significant development in the gaming industry. Fans of FIFA games can look forward to a fresh experience, while the competition in the soccer simulation market may intensify. Stay tuned for official announcements and updates.
