The world of soccer video games changed today after Konami and FIFA – long-time rivals on the virtual pitch – signed their first deal following the end of the long-running FIFA games published by EA Sports. But don’t get too excited just yet, it’s just esports.
Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer series has been battling it out with EA Sports’ all-conquering FIFA series for years I finally switched to free eFootball. EA largely cornered the market, locking up the rights to the Premier League, La Liga and other popular leagues, and Konami was left fighting for the scraps.
EA canceled the FIFA license in 2022 amid reports that the organization, which serves as the governing body for various national associations around the world, has requested more than $1 billion for the four-year World Cup cycle. EA renamed the series EA Sports FC in 2023 with relatively few changes. Since then, there has been speculation that Take-Two, along with its 2K Games label, could take over the FIFA license, but in August Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said that any potential competitor to EA Sports FC would face numerous complications.
We have now partnered with Konami and FIFA to ensure that eFootball will be used at this year’s FIFAe World Cup on both consoles and mobile devices (in previous years, EA Sports’ FIFA games were used). It’s significant to note that this isn’t a deal with Konami to acquire the FIFA video game franchise or rebrand eFootball as FIFA, but it does represent a noticeable change in the ever-evolving energetic between video game developers and those who hold the keys to real world football.
It is clear that EA will be watching developments with great interest. In July, EA Sports welcomed the potential for real competition in the soccer-themed video game industry following rumors of a novel FIFA game coming to market.
In May, FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that a novel FIFA game was in the works, saying: “We will develop a new electronic game because (the) football simulation game is called FIFA. For hundreds of millions of children around the world, when they play (a) soccer simulation game, they play FIFA. There is no other way to call it.
“Together with new partners, we are creating a new game that, of course, like everything we do, will be the best. So get ready for the new FIFA e-game.”
If 2K does indeed take on FIFA, perhaps it will be relaunched as FIFA 2K, much like already successful annual 2K sports games like NBA 2K. If that’s the case with Konami, maybe eFIFA? Pro-evolution FIFA? Or, perhaps more likely, a simple return of FIFA at the end of the year.
Wesley is the UK news editor at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. Wesley can be reached at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wy100@proton.me.
