FIFA have confirmed that they will end their long-standing exclusive partnership with Electronic Arts (EA) Sports, following a failure to renew terms.
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Fifa has come out to confirm in a statement that they will look to revisit their approach pertaining to esports and the gaming industry.
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The world football governing body also confirmed that, they aim to look beyond just EA Sports as their exclusive rights holders for their FIFA game. This is due to the football body’s ambition to broaden their horizons and offer their customers more specialised experiences.
“Gaming and eSports are the fastest-growing media verticals on the planet, with new and diverse types of games launching continuously,” it wrote. “It is therefore of crucial importance for FIFA and its stakeholders to maximise all future opportunities for football and gaming fans.” Said the statement from FIFA.
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FIFA then went further to confirm that preliminary talks with potential new partners and collaborators are already underway. They also mention plans to broaden the availability of the game and see mobile industries amongst others as possible new landscapes they can utilise to continue growing the game, instead of limiting it’s access to EA.
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“FIFA is bullish and excited about the future in gaming and esports for football, and it is clear that this needs to be a space that is occupied by more than one party controlling all rights, Technology and mobile companies are now actively competing to be associated with FIFA, its platforms, and global tournaments. Consequently, FIFA is engaging with various industry players, including developers, investors and analysts, to build out a long-term view of the gaming, esports and interactive entertainment sector.”
EA reportedly also keen to part ways
EA have yet to issue a statement of their own to respond to FIFA but there is an understanding that the gaming powerhouse has, itself carved out future plans to continues its football gaming legacy under a different name