As weโd been reassured last May, the dissolution of FIFA and Electronic Artsโ (EA) 30-year partnership certainly doesnโt mean the end of football games for either. Reports are now indicating EA Sports will ink a blockbuster commercial deal with the English Premier League (EPL).
According to Sky News, 20 Premier League clubs including Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and the Tottenham Hotspurs have been briefed on a brand new six-year partnership with EA Sports worth approximately ยฃ488 million ($850.6 million).
โOne club executive said [this deal] would deliver more than ยฃ80 million ($139.4 million) annually, and would consist of EA remaining as the leagueโs lead partner as well as retaining its exclusive electronic game licence,โ reveals Mark Kleinman of Sky News.
โThe lucrative extension is said to be worth more than double the existing deal involving the two parties.โ
โSky Sports News understands itโs this commercial strength that has helped convince the would-be defectors who considered joining the European Super League in 2021 that the Premier League is the most financially robust league in world football.โ
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While the English Premier League has declined to comment, EA Sports has noted: โWe donโt comment on details of commercial relationships, or discussions with our partners. Weโre proud to have a long-standing partnership with the Premier League and its clubs, and appreciate their support in our plans for EA Sports FC. We have nothing to announce today.โ
EA Sports lost the rights to FIFA after months of โtense negotiationsโ back in 2022. True to their avaricious reputation, FIFA apparently demanded double the annual US$150 million (AU$215 million) fee it received from the video game publisher. Instead of kotowing to FIFA, EA Sports simply walked away and announced the rebranding of its multi-billion-dollar franchise to the aforementioned EA Sports FC.
In turn, FIFA is bringing a direct rival to market with every intention to beat EA Sports at their own game, which is quite a laughable ambition considering the decades of experience the latter has over the former.
โI can assure you that the only authentic, real game that has the FIFA name will be the best one available for gamers and football fans,โ said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
โThe FIFA nameโ โ which Gianni suggested the organisation would reclaim for its own game โ โis the only global, original title.โ
EA Sportsโ FIFA 23 marked the franchiseโs biggest-ever launch with over 10.3 million players registered on the title within the first week alone.
