FIFA releases statement hitting back at EA Sports - and suggests it's open to ending licensing exclusivity

(Pocket-lint) - FIFA has suggested it's unfastened to moving with caller video games companies, arsenic hostility mounts with EA Sports regarding aboriginal licensing agreements.

EA precocious published a forward-looking press release celebrating FIFA 22 that included the astonishment admittance that it was considering renaming the long-running series, which was followed by reports that talks with the sport's governing assemblage had stalled.

FIFA has present responded. It's official statement appears to travel retired powerfully against EA Sports - without straight referencing the partner, of people - saying it believes shot gaming and esports "must impact much than 1 enactment controlling and exploiting each rights".

"Technology and mobile companies are present actively competing to beryllium associated with FIFA, its platforms, and planetary tournaments," the connection says.

"Consequently, FIFA is engaging with assorted manufacture players, including developers, investors and analysts, to physique retired a semipermanent presumption of the gaming, eSports and interactive amusement sector."

It's not wholly wide what issues are astatine the halfway of the disagreement, though FIFA is reportedly looking to treble the outgo of its licensing fees - $1bn each 4 years - portion EA is looking to grow usage of the licence itself to video crippled tournaments, NFTs and different integer products. FIFA, arsenic you tin imagine, besides views the the second arsenic a marketplace for itself.

With EA Sports precocious filing trademark applications for the 'EA Sports FC' title, arsenic good arsenic reportedly extending its relation with subordinate national FIFPro, it appears this 1 won't beryllium going distant immoderate clip soon.

With the existent 10-year licensing statement ending aft the 2022 World Cup, though, immoderate solution volition person to beryllium recovered implicit the adjacent fewer months, we expect. Stay tuned for more.

Writing by Conor Allison. Originally published connected 18 October 2021.