EA Sports FC to replace FIFA franchise as the future of football gaming

Electronic Arts (EA), the developer of the popular Fifa gaming franchise, is set to release its new football game, EA Sports FC, later this year. The move away from the well-established brand is a significant risk for EA, but the company is looking to create its narrative and shape the future of interactive football. The new game will include more than 19,000 footballers, 700 teams, and 30 leagues, ensuring that the realism and authenticity of the game will be maintained. However, the company is also promising innovation and exciting developments as they transition from Fifa to FC.

EA is already advertising the new game's logo on advertising boards in Premier League grounds and has unveiled its FC Futures programme, which aims to support grassroots football projects worldwide. The company is also funding real-world pitches, raising awareness of the new brand in local communities.

EA's challenge will be to inform more casual players of the new brand. The company is still making content for the current and final version of Fifa and will reveal more details about the new game in July. Despite this significant change, the company promises to continue features like Ultimate Team, Career Mode, and Pro Clubs.

EA's move to EA Sports FC is a savvy one, allowing the fanbase plenty of time to get their heads around it. EA plans to become a global hub for football content, offering viewing rights to some matches alongside the game itself, and support for real-world events or tournaments. Getting this switch right is crucial for EA, with the team running it saying they are excited to get going. Watch this space to see if "fancy a game of FC?" becomes the new norm.