FIFA has aligned itself with Konami Digital Entertainment Co., the creator ofeFootball(formerlyPro Evolution Soccer). This new partnership aims to ensure the smooth running of the FIFAe World Cup esports tournament that used to be conducted on the EA SportsFIFAplatform. While many fans still associate FIFA with the blockbuster EA Sports franchise, the federation’s partnership with Konami andeFootball– EA SportsFIFA’s fiercest rivals – could be the first step to disassociating their brand name from the famous publisher.
FIFA’s High-Profile Split From EA Sports And The Move To Konami
The FIFA name has been synonymous with EA Sports’ football simulation game series for a little over 30 years. In time, theFIFAgames became a cultural phenomenon to look forward to yearly, offering casual gamers and diehard football fans the chance to play with their favorite teams and players in iconic stadiums. However,FIFA and EA Sports ended their longstanding partnershipdue to disagreements over licensing fees.
FIFA wanted more than the $100 million yearly fee that EA was willing to give up and the two giants came to a conclusion that shook the core of the sports gaming world. This split led EA Sports to rebrand its flagship football series asEA Sports FC, while FIFA announced that it was exploring new partnerships over developing a new simulation title for 2024.
While this has not come to fruition yet, Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, promised that the governing body is in the process of making the new game a reality. In the meantime, FIFA has made its next big move in the sports gaming industry by teaming up withRocket LeagueandFootball Managerfor this year’s edition of theFIFAe World Cup Tournament, with Konami andeFootballbeing the latest addition to this lineup.
The Details Behind The Konami X FIFAe World Cup
There are two tournaments in the works set to commence later this year oneFootball, one for mobile gamers and the other on consoles. This lines up witheFootball’s vision of providing joy for the global football community through esports by being one of the very firstmajor sports tournamentsto feature a mobile category. For this year’s edition, 18 countries have been invited, namely:
According to Konami, these countries were selected on factors such as playerbase, reputation, and previous performances in similar esports tournaments. Qualifying playoff matches began on October 10, and the champions will be selected to represent their country in the tournament. The game is also free for those willing to try it out for the first time.
“We are incredibly excited to join forces with KONAMI. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to promote football globally and to provide a platform for players to showcase their skills. We truly believe in an inclusive ecosystem which allows different communities to be part of the FIFAe competitions.” - Romy Gai, Chief Business Officer at FIFA
While this deal does not mean that Konami will create thenext mainlineFIFAgame, it does signify that the world governing body is positioning itself as a major player in the esports space and reminding fans that it still plans to be a force in the industry despite its separation from EA Sports. As the major governing body for football, FIFA’s mission is to continue the advancement of the sport on all fronts, and its collaboration with Konami may help preserve its esports tournament as they work together on creating a worthy football game title to carry on the responsibility of bearing that name.
