This decision is due to the FIFA's desire to broaden their horizons and provide more specialised experiences to their customers.
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Following a failure to renew terms, FIFA has hinted that it will end its long-standing exclusive partnership with Electronic Arts (EA) Sports, as per reports. They confirmed in a statement that they will reconsider their stance on esports and the gaming industry. The world football governing body has also stated that they intend to look beyond EA Sports as their exclusive rights holders for their FIFA game. This is due to the football body’s desire to broaden their horizons and provide more specialised experiences to their customers.
“Gaming and eSports are the fastest-growing media verticals on the planet, with new and diverse types of games launching continuously,” the FIFA statement read. “It is therefore of crucial importance for FIFA and its stakeholders to maximise all future opportunities for football and gaming fans.” it added.
FIFA then confirmed that preliminary discussions with potential new partners and collaborators are already underway. They also mention plans to broaden the game’s availability and see mobile industries, among other things, as possible new landscapes they can use to continue growing the game, rather than limiting its access to EA.
“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,” the statement added.
EA has yet to issue a statement in response to FIFA, but it is widely assumed that the gaming behemoth has planned to continue its football gaming legacy under a different name in the future.
