Electronic Arts considering renaming of 'FIFA' videogame
Electronic Arts is studying the possibility of 'renaming' its successful 'Fifa' video game, explaining that it was 'reviewing' its agreement on the naming rights.
California based Electronic Arts is studying the possibility of "changing the name" of its soccer video game "Fifa", explaining that it was "reviewing" its agreement on the naming rights of its successful title with the federation.
"As we look ahead, we’re also exploring the idea of renaming our global EA SPORTS football games. This means we’re reviewing our naming rights agreement with FIFA, which is separate from all our other official partnerships and licenses across the football world.
The future of football is very big and very bright. Our priority is to ensure we have every opportunity to continue delivering the world’s greatest interactive football experiences" said Cam Weber, president of EA Sports, in a statement.
EA Sports and their Fifa games are the undisputed leaders in the market with license agreements ensuring real player names, teams, stadiums. The Fifa game has been released by Electronic Arts every year since 1993 with the new "Fifa 22" game going on sale globally on 1 October this year.
"Fifa 21" was the best-selling video game in Europe in 2020 ahead of "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" and "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe", according to the GFK institute.
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EA Sport's main competitor in the football gaming market Japan's Konami, has already decided to ditch the name "Pro Evolution Soccer", a series which emerged in the 2000s but has been losing ground for fifteen years to EA's Fifa games.
Konami's "eFootball 2022" is now available for free but disappointed many upon its launch at the end of September with players pointing out 'bugs' and 'awful' graphics.