The world’s governing body is up with a new registered game this time a free-to-play, non-simulation wireless offering built with the potential for gamers to purchase and sell in-game athletes on the blockchain after its decades-long relationship with EA Sports ended in bad terms and it pledged to produce a better football video game series by itself.
FIFA’s most recent endeavor comes as EA continues to grow in sales since changing its own video game title to EA Sports FC.
FIFA Rivals from Mythical Games may start worldwide, following the company’s past NFL Rivals name, which drew 5 million downloads and more than 115 million adult games played in its first season. Within 10 days of releasing its second FC title last season, the company reported, and another 11 million people are currently playing the mobile version of the novel EA brand.
” Our goal is to replicate our success with]the ] previous Rivals game and set new benchmarks in the web3 gaming sector”, Mythical Games CEO and founder John Linden said in a statement. The development of new levels of games gameplay will result from the combination of officially licensed football stars ( past and present ), prestigious leagues from around the world, and global competitive esports game. There are significant plans to incorporate into the FIFA esports platform as part of this long-term collaboration with FIFA so that players from all nations can get participants or supporters.
In FIFA Competitors, already planned for a summer 2025 transfer, players will be able to build up their own teams, sing in player-vs. person matches, and buy, sell or trade celebrities through in-game and online marketplaces.
However debate continues about a possible full-blown, console-based FIFA-backedsimulation rival to EA Sports FC, possible coming out ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
” We will develop a new e-game, because]the ] football simulation game is called FIFA for hundreds of millions of children around the world”, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in May. ” When they play]a ] football simulation game, they play FIFA, it cannot be named something else”.
The new activity, Infantino added,” as everything we do, will be the best”.
Since 1993, Electronic Arts has reported that the first FIFA game has been officially licensed. Since then, sales have reportedly increased by more than$ 20 billion.
After FIFA reportedly increased its asking price to more than$ 1 billion per four-year World Cup cycle in addition to other requests, FIFA’s relationship with EA ended.
When the split was initially reported in 2022, EA CEO Andrew Wilson said,” It was really about how we can do more for the people, more for the fans, how we can offer them more modes of play, how we can bring more companions into the game, and how we can expand beyond the traditional game.”
On FIFA’s area, Infantino gestured towards a more varied gambling investment. In 2022, he said, “FIFA’s approach is to ensure we may make the most of all potential options and ensure a wide range of products and options for players, fans, part associations, and partners.”
Beyond the Mythical Games partnership, FIFA has announced gaming tie-ups, integrations and activations of various sizes with Konami, Roblox, Rocket League and Football Manager developer Sports Interactive.
” We’re thrilled to partner with Mythical Games to launch FIFA Rivals, bringing football fans a mobile-first gaming experience that deepens their connection to the sport”, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said in a statement.
More than 17, 000 professional players who have appeared in the game have been granted the rights to do so thanks to EA’s close ties with top leagues and clubs. After its release in September, EA Sports FC 25 broke records for soccer game revenue, according to Circana tracking data. Any new FIFA partner would likely agree to terms that would increase the player and team IP in their games.
In late October, EA beat analyst projections in its announced Q2 earnings, driven by the success of FC and Madden titles as well as the return of EA College Football. Over the past six months, EA stock has increased by about 25 %.
Meanwhile, Infantino continues to work towards the record revenue he promised during his current term, which runs through 2027. The organization anticipates more hospitality, ticketing and broadcast revenues from the 2026 World Cup in North America. The FIFA Club World Cup will once again be held annually starting in 2025.