Electronic Arts (EA) and FIFA have broken off their partnership after almost 3 decades and the popular series of football games will now be called ‘EA Sports FC’, the American video game company said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the changes would come after the release of their next edition FIFA 23, later this year. 

“After nearly 30 years of creating genre-defining interactive football experiences, we will soon begin an exciting new era. Next year, EA SPORTS FC will become the future of football from EA SPORTS. Alongside our 300+ license partners across the sport, we’re ready to take global football experiences to new heights, on behalf of all football fans around the world,” read a statement from Group GM of EA Sports, Cam Weber. 

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EA have handled the production of the game since 1993’s FIFA International Soccer. Weber confirmed in the statement that despite dropping the name license, EA Sports FC will keep FIFA’s league, club and player licenses, including “19,000+ players, 700+ teams, 100+ stadiums and 30 leagues.”

“Everything you love about our games will be part of EA SPORTS FC – the same great experiences, modes, leagues, tournaments, clubs and athletes will be there. Ultimate Team, Career Mode, Pro Clubs and VOLTA Football will all be there. Our unique licensing portfolio of more than 19,000+ players, 700+ teams, 100+ stadiums and 30 leagues that we’ve continued to invest in for decades will still be there, uniquely in EA SPORTS FC. That includes exclusive partnerships with the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, the MLS – and more to come,” he said. 

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He promised to “expand to new authentic experiences that bring joy, inclusivity and immersion to a global community of fans” and said that additional details will be announced on that “in the coming months.”