FIFA 23 – it seems the name is literally the only thing that’s changed (pic: EA)



Aware that the name change may scare long time fans, EA is claiming that EA Sports FC is basically its FIFA games in everything but name.



For the first time since 1993, this year will see no new FIFA game released… sort of. While EA no longer has access to the FIFA licence , its football games make far too much money ( mostly via microtransactions ) for the company to stop releasing them.



That’s why instead of FIFA 24, you’ll be getting EA Sports FC. It’s got a logo now but this new not-FIFA title should see a proper reveal later in the summer.



Given the change in name, though, there are naturally going to be people confused/anxious that EA Sports FC will be a completely different game. Something EA is eager to assure them isn’t the case.



‘Everything players love about FIFA will remain,’ says the brand’s vice president David Jackson.



‘The authenticity of 19,000+ athletes, 700+ teams and 30+ leagues is paramount. They’ll still be fully licensed and the immersive nature of that realism will be a non-negotiable part of our FC future.’



EA’s already demonstrated this by renewing its licensing deal with the Premier League, allowing it to retain the exclusive rights to use the league’s clubs in video games.



Basically, EA’s saying that EA Sports FC isn’t going to suffer any sort of downgrade in terms of content just because it doesn’t have the FIFA licence anymore. Although they will no longer have access to the World Cup, which comes as part of the FIFA name.



Of course, Jackson adds that EA aims to strive for innovation but he’s likely referring to gameplay changes and tweaks that would have happened anyway if the name hadn’t changed.



‘At the same time, football, gaming and entertainment move fast, and often in opposing directions – so a deep commitment to innovation will be apparent in everything we look to achieve in the virtual world of football, as well as the real one,’ says Jackson.



We’re not sure why he elected to make his statement via LinkedIn rather than a public blog post or on social media though, since that’s where the majority of fans are going to be.



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However EA Sports FC turns out, though, it’s not exactly going to need to worry about any competition this year.



Following their break-up, the FIFA organisation itself has pledged to make its own video games , even proclaiming they’ll be ‘the best’ ones available.



Although comments from FIFA president Gianni Infantino may suggest that there’ll be no FIFA 24 and you’ll need to wait until 2024 for their first crack at it.



We’re still not sold on the new logo (pic: EA)



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MORE : Ditching the FIFA licence could be the end of EA – Reader’s Feature





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