Who is the owner of FIFA game?

Who is the owner of FIFA game?

The FIFA video game series has been a staple of the gaming industry for decades, with the latest installment, FIFA 23, being released in 2022. But who owns the rights to this popular franchise? The answer is Electronic Arts (EA), a leading American video game company.

Electronic Arts (EA)

EA is a public company listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange, founded in 1982 by Trip Hawkins. The company has since grown to become one of the largest video game developers and publishers in the world, with a diverse portfolio of popular game franchises including Madden NFL, The Sims, and Need for Speed.

EA’s acquisition of FIFA rights

EA acquired the rights to the FIFA franchise in 1993, when it was still a relatively small company. At the time, the FIFA franchise was just beginning to gain popularity, and EA saw an opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for sports games.

FIFA license

In 1993, FIFA granted EA the license to develop and publish soccer games bearing the FIFA name and logo. Since then, EA has been responsible for developing and publishing FIFA games, with each new installment featuring updated teams, players, and graphics.

FIFA licensing fee

In 2011, FIFA increased its licensing fee for EA from $40 million to $80 million per year, as part of a 15-year agreement. However, in 2020, FIFA announced that it would no longer allow EA to use the FIFA name and logo, effectively ending the licensing agreement.

Rebranding to EA Sports FC

In response, EA rebranded the series to EA Sports FC, with the first installment under the new name released in 2022. While the name has changed, the gameplay and features of the game remain largely unchanged, with EA committing to continuing to support and develop the franchise.

Other owners

It’s worth noting that there have been other owners of the FIFA franchise over the years, including:

• Virgin Interactive (1987-1995): Before EA acquired the rights to FIFA, Virgin Interactive developed and published FIFA games under a licensing agreement with FIFA.
• Telenet (1991-1995): Telenet, a Dutch company, developed and published FIFA games for European audiences, with EA publishing the games in North America.
• Konami (1999-2005): Japanese game developer Konami acquired the rights to the FIFA franchise from EA and published games under the name International Superstar Soccer.

Revenue

The FIFA franchise has generated significant revenue over the years, with sales estimated to be over $20 billion. In 2022, EA reported revenues of $5.6 billion from the FIFA series.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Electronic Arts (EA) is the current owner of the FIFA video game franchise, having acquired the rights in 1993. While the franchise has undergone changes over the years, including a recent rebranding to EA Sports FC, EA has continued to support and develop the series, which has become a staple of the gaming industry.

References:

• EA.com (2022) "FIFA 23 Review"
• Statista (2022) "Revenue of EA Sports FIFA games"
• Wikipedia (2022) "FIFA video game series"

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