The divorce of FIFA and EA Sports marks the end of an era in gaming
The future of football video games is uncertain
FOOTBALL AFICIONADOS may associate FIFA, the governing body of the sport, with scandal. In 2015 an investigation by the FBI led to the arrests of several officials on charges of corruption. For casual football enthusiasts, however, the name probably brings to mind something else: the world’s most popular sports video game.
The “FIFA” series, produced by EA Sports, a division of Electronic Arts, an American firm, is a football-simulation game. Its format is straightforward: players control teams, modelled on real-life ones, and compete for glory. On September 30th EA Sports will release “FIFA 23”. Since their inception, “FIFA” games have sold more than 325m copies across various formats. Each release is a much-anticipated event in the entertainment calendar.
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