EA thinks about new name for FIFA - the old one is damned expensive

La Federación Internacional de Fútbol Asociación[2]​ (en francés, Fédération Internationale de Football Association)[3]​ universalmente conocida por sus siglas FIFA, es la institución que gobierna las federaciones de fútbol en todo el planeta. Se fundó el 21 de mayo de 1904 y tiene su sede en Zúrich, Suiza. Forma parte del IFAB, organismo encargado de modificar las reglas del juego. Además, la FIFA organiza la Copa Mundial de Fútbol, los otros campeonatos del mundo en sus distintas categorías, ramas y variaciones de la disciplina, y los Torneos Olímpicos a la par del COI. La FIFA agrupa 211 asociaciones o federaciones de fútbol de distintos países, contando con 17 países afiliados más que la Organización de las Naciones Unidas, tres menos que la Asociación Internacional de Federaciones de Atletismo y dos menos que la Federación Internacional de Baloncesto.[4]​[5]​

EA Sports has confirmed that thinking about renaming derFIFA series. Now we know probably what demands the FIFA for a continuation of the Games under the old name and the deal sounds expensive.

What s going on? Recently, there are always more numerous messages about that undergoes a crisis a little between EA and FIFA. So the 10-year contract will run between the two parties from next year, an extension is well discussed.

Here, EA even that you can also think about a renaming of the FIFA series was openly known. So wrote Cam Weber, head of EA Sports earlier this week in a letter: Looking to the future, we also consider the idea of ​​our global EA Sports football matches rename.

That would be the end of a tradition that lasts since 1993 with FIFA International Soccer. Since every football game from Electronic Arts had the FIFA name in the title.

That could change with the next branch and now we also know what factors are problematic in the discussion. As the New York Times reports that FIFA wants a reward a new contract juicy and wants additional participation rights.

1 billion dollars for the FIFA name and additional restrictions

This is behind it: Apparently, FIFA now requires twice the amount, about one billion US dollars for 4 years in which EA s name and can use licenses FIFA. That would be about twice as much was how the old contract, which at 500 million US dollars for 4 years. The basic disagreement between EA and FIFA are not just the price.

The FIFA apparently wants to limit the possibilities of making money within the games strong and retain exclusive rights for themselves. EA wants to establish in return rather further opportunities for monetization. In the NYT is talk of highlights from recent games, arena tournaments and digital products such as NFTs. Apparently, FIFA also considered the possibility of selling their licenses to publishers such as Epic Games, which have no direct relation to football.

Why does EA on an amendment to? It s not just about the high amount that would cost a new contract, but also to in-game monetization whose restriction could bring EA further losses. The reasons are not only in the financial perspective.

Live service in the form of packs, and monetization brings EA every year several billion in revenue. So it was, for example, between April 2020 and March 2021 approximately 4.6 billion US dollars. 1.2 billion of which came solely by FIFA Ultimate Team concluded.

If FIFA forthwith called something else? The possibility at least. So EA Sports FC was allowed already registered as a trademark. According to IGN stands before a decision later this year and EA will likely no restrictions suffered its most important sources of income.

In addition, it might not be well received at EA that FIFA for other partners on the lookout, while both companies actually work together for years and the publisher hundreds of millions of dollars invested. That also means the former EA employee Peter Moore, who long played an important role in EA:

I ll say, Wait a minute, we have literally spent hundreds of millions of dollars to get this set up, and you tell me that Epic Games can come and get a license for the name that we have built and we in the foreground have provided and has become a synonym for gaming? [...] Then, yes, then I negotiate and fight against it. (Via New York Times)

More on FIFA 22:

FIFA 22 starts tomorrow Road to the knockouts - with players who are getting better Players in FIFA 22 really want to stay, but the new system will not let FIFA 22 icons - all icons with their ratings in the list

What happens if there is no deal? Primarily a huge marketing deal and a traditional partnership would come to an end for both companies. Especially in advertising thus something would change.

For the players should not change too much. Even without the FIFA license EA had with the UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga and FIFPro, the world s largest Spielervetretung still enough licenses in the hindquarters. This partnership with thousands of player names has been extended recently.

It will show up so do not suddenly strange footballers names in the next game from EA Sports. But what else changes, is currently difficult to foresee. It remains to be seen whether both parties can not but some at the end.

What do you think about this topic? Do you think both parties agree that there are? Or you do not care the topic?