User:The tru1 editor/EA Sports FC 24

Introduction:
FC24, formerly known as FIFA 24 before EA Sports(EA) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), marked a crucial turning point in football gaming as Electronic Arts (EA) decided to terminate its longstanding collaboration with the international football governing body. Since 1993, EA and FIFA have established a partnership where FIFA allows EA to use its Association's name on the cover of their products, which is widely known as the FIFA franchise. The association between EA Sports and FIFA has been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for many years, while the partnership allows EA to use the name, stadiums, and players from national teams. With this note, most of the copyrights of the leagues and clubs are independent of FIFA, and EA would have to negotiate another contract between them. The decision to end the partnership in 2022 meant the last EA product in their FIFA franchise would be FIFA 23.

Background:
The collaboration between EA and FIFA began in 1993 when EA Sports released the inaugural FIFA International Soccer game. Over the years, the partnership flourished, granting EA exclusive rights to utilize the FIFA name, logos, and official licenses for teams, players, and stadiums. This exclusivity allowed EA to craft an immersive and authentic football gaming experience, winning the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. The last product of the FIFA Franchise, FIFA 23, features the 2022 Qatar World Cup as the main selling point.

Reasons for Termination:
Despite the long and successful partnership, the relationship between EA and FIFA encountered challenges leading up to the release of FC24. The decision to part ways arose from various factors, including disagreements over licensing fees, revenue sharing, and the desire for greater creative control for both parties. With the previous contract coming to an end date, FIFA and EA’s new contract didn't come to an agreement. These issues reached a tipping point, culminating in EA's announcement that FC24 would be the final game developed in collaboration with FIFA.

Impact on FC24:
The end of the EA-FIFA partnership had a profound impact on FC24, the concluding installment in the series. With the conclusion of official FIFA licensing, EA had to rebrand the game as FC24, relinquishing access to real team names, player likenesses, and authentic stadium designs. This change compelled EA to adopt a more imaginative approach, introducing fictional teams, players, and venues to maintain the game's allure. The main impact of the series would be access to International teams and tournaments. For example, the FIFA World Cup, which is directly held by the FIFA organization, may not be introduced into the game since the licenses belong to FIFA. Independent copyrights for clubs and different leagues are not significantly affected. However, EA Sports would have harder access to some minor leagues that are directly controlled by the FIFA organization. EA Sports would not be able to use football players by their national team images.

Another competitor company, Konami, has their own EFootball online football game series. is competing to sign more contracts with individual clubs to gain exclusive copyright to particular team's badges, players, kits, and stadiums. It can be foreseen that Konami will implement actions to gain market share after the end of EA Sports and FIFA's partnership.

Conclusion:
The termination of EA's collaboration with FIFA in the release of FC24, formerly known as FIFA, represented a pivotal moment in football gaming history. The decision, driven by various factors, significantly impacted the series's final installment and prompted the gaming industry to explore new possibilities. As FC24 became a symbol of adaptation and change, it left a lasting legacy, unlocking doors for future innovations and competition in the virtual football gaming landscape.

Reference:
https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/history-of-fifa-every-fifa-game-ever-released/eycphoguaggy1fwscnr43azlo

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/10/sports/soccer/fifa-ea-sports.html

https://www.ea.com/games/fifa/news/ea-sports-and-fifa-extend-licensing-agreement-until-2022

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/12/konami-efootball-interview-ea-fifa-split