EA Sports, the leading developer of soccer video games, has taken a surprising decision to delist all its previous FIFA titles from major online platforms. The move comes just before the release of its new game, EA Sports FC 24, which will be the first one without the FIFA branding.
EA Sports has not given any official explanation for why it decided to remove all its prior FIFA games from online stores. However, some analysts and fans have speculated that it could be related to the end of its partnership with FIFA, the international governing body of soccer.
Last year, EA announced that it was parting ways with FIFA after nearly three decades of collaboration. The company said that it wanted to create a more authentic and immersive soccer experience for its players, and that it no longer needed the FIFA license to do so.
FIFA, on the other hand, reportedly demanded $1 billion from EA for exclusive rights to its brand, which EA refused to pay. FIFA also expressed dissatisfaction with how EA portrayed its image and values in its games.
As a result, EA Sports rebranded its soccer franchise as EA Sports FC, which stands for Football Club. The new name reflects the company’s focus on creating a more diverse and inclusive soccer community, as well as offering more customization and personalization options for players.
What does this mean for FIFA fans?
The delisting of FIFA games means that fans who want to play the older titles will have to look for alternative ways to access them. For example, they can still play FIFA 23 via a subscription to EA Play, which is a service that offers access to a collection of EA games. Some DLC packs are also still available for purchase.
However, fans who want to buy the digital versions of the games will not be able to do so anymore. They will have to resort to physical copies or second-hand markets, which could be more expensive or harder to find.
The delisting also means that fans will not be able to enjoy the updates and patches that EA usually provides for its games. This could affect the gameplay quality and performance of the older titles, as well as their compatibility with newer devices and systems.
How will EA Sports FC 24 be different from FIFA games?
EA Sports FC 24 is set to launch on September 29th, 2023, and it promises to be a revolutionary soccer game that will offer a new level of realism and immersion. The game will feature:
- A new gameplay engine that will deliver more responsive and fluid controls, as well as more realistic physics and animations.
- A new career mode that will let players create their own custom avatar and progress through different levels of soccer, from amateur to professional.
- A new social hub that will let players interact with other soccer fans from around the world, join clubs, compete in tournaments, and share their achievements.
- A new customization system that will let players design their own kits, badges, stadiums, and fan chants.
- A new licensing system that will include more than 700 teams and 17,000 players from over 30 leagues and competitions around the world.
EA Sports FC 24 will also feature some of the most popular soccer stars and legends, such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappé, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Marta, Pele, Maradona, Zidane, Beckham, and many more.
EA Sports FC 24 will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), as well as mobile devices (iOS and Android).
