What was speculated for a long time, is official since last week: FIFA, as the players know it, goes, EA SPORTS FC comes. While EA SPORTS wants to use the opportunity of the blown chains, FIFA goes into attack mode. Association president Gianni Infantino spoke of bringing no less the “best game available for players and soccer fans.

In the first perception, this sounds like what it takes on the market: competition – which, in the opinion of streamer Elias Nerlich, has never existed in the field of soccer simulation to FIFA. With the renaissance of eFootball, UFL, GOALS and then FIFA from the summer of 2023, there are four competitors ready to kick off directly.

But many questions remain unanswered. How will licenses be awarded in the future? Which game will be used for tournaments like the VBL, or even several? And above all: Who will develop the FIFA game? In the kicker eSport Talk discussed about it Michael ‘MegaBit’ Bittner, Patrick Baur and Marvin ‘M4_RV96’ Hintz.

Tournaments like the VBL at a game – advantage EA SPORTS?

On the subject of licenses spoke host Jan ‘GamingAlm’ Bergmann, addresses what is probably a concern for many: A patchwork quilt: “Then EA SPORTS FC has 50 percent of the licenses and the other two 25 percent.”

A scenario that Baur, however, considers not so likely, also from a financial point of view. An expansion of the licenses, through which, for example, the Bundesliga may also be realistically represented in several games, “is more of an opportunity, because more money will flow.”

However, league operators, such as the DFL with its Virtual Bundesliga, will probably limit themselves to one game. According to Baur, a tournament with several soccer simulations “increases the complexity for the league operator from an organizational point of view. In addition, there would be possible acquisition costs.

 

Most opportunities are in EA SPORTS FC, but depending on how they take them.

 

Michael ‘MegaBit’ Bittner

 

Here Hintz sees the advantages clearly with EA SPORTS. The golden factor: “The customer loyalty. They have already built a network and relationships.” In addition, they already have expertise in hosting tournaments, adds ‘MegaBit’: “Most of the opportunities are in EA SPORTS FC, but depending on how they take them.”

The two-time German club champion with Werder Bremen also sees opportunities in sponsorship. FIFA comes “from classic soccer” and determines “to that extent the target group”. From this experience, EA SPORTS can go other ways from summer 2023

Possibly the way also leads to more offline tournaments. After all, “the licensing (Dhe FIFA naming rights, editor’s note.) also put cuffs on them,” Baur believes. Once these costs have been eliminated, “there will be opportunities that would otherwise not exist. More offline tournaments, more eSports.”

FIFA faces Herculean task

That the last offshoot of the soccer association and EA SPORTS’ brings major innovations is unlikely, he said. Hintz reckons that in FIFA 23 the focus is on the gameplay, “large features such as new modes there are then rather to EA SPORTS FC, to promote this title with it also.” Bittner could even imagine EA moving away from the annual development cycle

Who will develop FIFA, it is still unclear. While the round the studio “2k” (develop among other things NBA 2k, editor’s note.), Baur also brings Konami into play. FIFA eFootball? A step that “could strengthen the comeback once again”. In addition, the Japanese developer studio already has expertise in soccer simulations

That would be different for 2k. In addition, ‘M4_RV96’ sees the pressure more as an inhibition. This would be “extremely high with all the expectations”. Or does FIFA hire Saudi Arabia? Bergmann could imagine that: After all, the Savvy Gaming Group, which recently bought ESL and FACEIT, also wants to “put money into the development of video games.”

 

The FIFA game must first exist.

 

Konami showed how difficult it can be to develop a soccer simulation with eFootball 2022. “They wanted to take a step with the new part, but initially failed crashingly,” Baur said, cautioning, “The FIFA game has to exist first. FIFA must first show that they are capable of developing a good game.” Therefore, he said, he is not sure “whether FIFA 24 will even be launched in 2023.”

Which is why a comeback of the cooperation between EA and the world federation does not seem to be a utopia. Categorically exclude this possibility in the round at least no one wanted