EA and FIFA set to part ways
Electronic Arts announced its financial earnings for its third quarter of the fiscal year, revealing that the latest, and last, entry in its long-running FIFA franchise, FIFA 23, is on track to be the best-selling release in the franchise’s entire history.
Speaking in a conference call, transcribed by VGC, EA CEO Andrew Wilson noted that North American sales of the football sim are up a huge 50% on last year’s release, and as such the title is “pacing to be the biggest title in franchise history”. As we previously reported, Electronic Arts FIFA 23 had an incredible launch week, racking up an incredible 10.3 million players within one week of its September 30, 2022 launch date.
In a strange irony, what could prove to be the most successful Electronic Arts FIFA title of all time will also be the last collaboration between the game publisher and international football’s statutory body. As of next year, Electronic Arts will launch its new brand, EA Sports FC, while the Federation Internationale de Football Association itself is hoping to find success with its own football simulation series.
Despite the insistence by FIFA president Gianni Infantino that the new, official FIFA game will be “the only authentic, real game”, and “best one available for gamers and football fans”, I think we know where the development talent and marketing savvy really lie. And, given the skyrocketing success of FIFA 23, The FIFA federation may soon regret pricing itself out of one of — if not the — most consistently performing franchise in the entire history of video games.
FIFA 23 is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.
EA says FIFA 23 is on track to be the biggest title in franchise history [VGC]
