The next EA Sports football game will be a historic one after the gaming giant ended its 30-year partnership with FIFA.
The news was confirmed back in May 2022, with it being announced that FIFA 23 would be the last game under its current iteration.
Instead, the replacement game will be called 'EA Sports FC' - complete with a new logo - but EA were quick to inform fans that exclusive licences and partnerships will still be present.
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Fortunately, competitions such as the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Women's Champions League, La Liga Santander, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, CONMEBOL Libertadores, Barclays Women's Super League, MLS and the NWSL will all still be playable.
Other leagues will be announced in due course ahead of launch but according to Early Game, a new league will be making its way to the first EA Sports FC game.
The Romanian league, more commonly known as 'Liga I', is to be added - meaning anyone desperate for that Steaua Bucharest Career Mode will finally have their dreams come true.
The Saudi Pro League, where a whole host of huge stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Ruben Neves will play, is expected to be licensed once again.
Cam Weber – the EVP, Group GM EA SPORTS & Racing - has already shed light on some details for EA Sport FC.
"This new independent platform will bring fresh opportunity – to innovate, create and evolve. This is much more than just a change of symbol - as EA SPORTS, we’re committed to ensuring EA SPORTS FC is a symbol of change," Weber said in an official statement.
"We’re dedicated to meaningfully reinvesting in the sport, and we’re excited to work with a large and increasing number of partners to expand to new authentic experiences that bring joy, inclusivity and immersion to a global community of fans. I look forward to sharing more detail on these plans in the coming months.
"EA SPORTS FC will allow us to realize this future and much more…but not before we deliver our most expansive game ever with our current naming rights partner, FIFA, for one more year. We are committed to ensuring the next FIFA is our best ever, with more features, game modes, World Cup content, clubs, leagues, competitions, and players than any FIFA title before.
"We’re incredibly excited to build the future of global football with all of you, and will be happy to share more info on EA SPORTS FC in Summer 2023.
"The future of the sport is very big and bright, and football fandom is reaching across every corner of the world. Global football has been part of EA SPORTS for nearly thirty years - and today, we’re ensuring that it will be for decades to come."
At this point there's no word on an potential cover star but things are expected to ramp up in the summer months ahead of a likely launch in late September.
Josh Lawless