A commentary by Gregor Elsholz.

Watching the mudslinging between EA and FIFA is like watching two toddlers wrestling over a toy. Two billionaire toddlers who are unclear about their role and standing in the world. Nor have they yet learned the concept of sharing, because they want the object of contention, a billion-dollar soccer franchise., rather break it than let the other guy play with it.

While there are already only losers between the two, but soccer fans in the midst of the brawl may at least Hope for a more varied future make.

FIFA vs. EA: Embarrassing, embarrassing

While the end of the FIFA series had already been hinted at in 2021 and EA had loudly nagged FIFA several times, it is now official: the soccer series will be from the – Season 2023/2024 the name EA Sports FC carry thus saving a handsome sum on licensing rights – money that the publisher may be able to invest in more sophisticated lootbox or live service mechanics. However, the partnerships with clubs and players, as well as modes and gameplay, are expected to remain unaffected by the change.

FIFA, the shadowy soccer organization where pretty much everything is for sale, isn’t willing to put up with that, though, so it’s mounting a mighty counterattack – it plans to launch its own soccer simulation in 2024, and even release more games with the FIFA name before then. President Gianni Infantino essentially threw on an Insulted Liverwurst fan scarf in a press release, claiming that only games with the authentic FIFA license will continue to be the only true soccer games will be. The constant would be the FIFA name and it would last forever, always remaining the best. The formulations of the press release are rhetorically on a par with “Catch me, you egg hole” and “Does not count, on the wall is klippo.”

FIFA 24: Football fans can hope for the future

EA’s FIFA series has dominated the soccer niche of gaming in recent years in a way that even Bayern Munich fans would probably describe as one-sided. However, with the break between the organization and publisher, there may now be at least some movement in the genre again. come. After Konami voluntarily and senselessly left the league of playable soccer simulations with eFootball, FIFA could send new publishers on the hunt for the championship title and (consciously or unconsciously) provide more diversity.

This, in turn, could push EA to bring some real innovation to EA Sports FC, Instead of the same move in a new kit year after year after year every year. These changes and demonopolization can actually only be good for soccer fans – even if until then we have to experience more squabbles in the billionaires’ playground, which are never about soccer but always about money.