By Paul Nicholson
May 8 – FIFA and EA SPORTS have extended their existing licensing agreement until December 31, 2022. EA SPORTS has exclusive rights to release FIFA-branded action and management videogames as well as the official FIFA World Cup videogame.
EA SPORTS will continue as the official Presenting Partner of the FIFA Interactive World Cup. The finals of the 2013 edition are currently taking place in Spain and are being streamed live on fifa.com and on youtube.com. The final takes place tonight with the winner taking home $20,000.
“EA SPORTS released the first FIFA-branded football game back in 1993, and 20 years later our partnership with FIFA continues to be very strong,” said Andrew Wilson, executive vice president and Head of EA SPORTS.
FIFA become the first gaming brand to top £1 billion in UK retail sales according to the January figures from GFK Chart-Track.
FIFA 13 was released in the UK in September 2012, and is also the highest grossing FIFA game in the franchise’s history, followed by its predecessor, FIFA 12.
Over 1 million copies were sold in the first 24 hours in the UK. Globally, the game netted sales of over 4.5 million units in just five days and around 7.4 million copies in four weeks.
The £1 billion figure was reached through 40 FIFA games – with the two most recent releases accounting for just over £200 million.
It is estimated that FIFA achieved digital net revenue of more than $115 million in the first half of the fiscal year for the 2013 game, including FIFA Online 2 and FIFA World Class Soccer, which together contributed over $50 million.
It is reckoned that 65 million FIFA games are played weekly.
FIFA 13 now includes 46 international teams, 30 football leagues and 69 stadia. FIFA 14 will add Brazilian 2nd division sides for the first time and there has been speculation that women’s leagues may also be included.
No license fee renewal figure has been released for the new deal.
“Our relationship with EA SPORTS is of high importance to FIFA” said Jérôme Valcke, FIFA Secretary General. “The FIFA videogames are a key experiential component in our work to communicate the FIFA brand and its values all over the world. This is highlighted by the 2.5 million football fans that have competed in this year’s FIFA Interactive World Cup, which is just one example of the power of our partnership with EA.”
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