The landscape of soccer video games has taken a significant turn with the recent announcement that Konami and FIFA, long-time competitors on the virtual field, have forged their first partnership following the departure of EA Sports from the FIFA franchise. However, fans should temper their excitement; this collaboration is strictly focused on esports.
For years, Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer series competed fiercely with EA Sports’ dominant FIFA titles. However, after struggling to keep pace, Konami transitioned to the free-to-play eFootball platform. In contrast, EA has effectively cornered the market by securing licenses for prestigious leagues such as the Premier League and La Liga, leaving Konami with limited options.
The shake-up began when EA opted to end its partnership with FIFA in 2022, driven by FIFA’s exorbitant demands for licensing fees—reportedly over $1 billion for a four-year World Cup cycle. This prompted EA to rebrand its flagship series as EA Sports FC in 2023, although the game itself underwent only minor changes. Speculation about Take-Two Interactive, known for its 2K Games label, potentially acquiring the FIFA license circulated shortly after, but CEO Strauss Zelnick indicated that any new contender would face significant hurdles.
Now, the spotlight is on the newly formed collaboration between Konami and FIFA, which will see eFootball utilized for this year’s FIFAe World Cup across both console and mobile platforms. Importantly, this partnership does not imply that Konami will be reviving the FIFA video game series or rebranding eFootball as FIFA; instead, it signifies a noteworthy shift in the evolving relationship between game developers and football's governing bodies.
EA Sports is undoubtedly keeping a close eye on these developments. In July, EA expressed optimism regarding the potential for real competition within the soccer video game market, especially in light of rumors surrounding a new FIFA game.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that a new FIFA game is in the works, stating, “We will develop a new e-game because the football simulation game is called FIFA. For hundreds of millions of children around the world, when they play a football simulation game, they play FIFA. It cannot be named something else.” Infantino assured fans that they are collaborating with new partners to create what they believe will be the best football game yet.
Should Take-Two move forward with the FIFA license, it may relaunch the title as FIFA 2K, echoing the successful formula of its NBA 2K series. Alternatively, if they collaborate with Konami, names like eFIFA or Pro Evolution FIFA could emerge. However, it is also plausible that the iconic FIFA branding will simply return with the year tagged on the end, keeping the legacy alive as the competition in the soccer video game arena heats up.
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