August 13 – The future of FIFA is looking more and more digital. Electronic Arts, makers of the FIFA 18 video game, have revealed that there were more than 29 million views across online platforms during the three-day finals in event earlier this month.
The figures are a 400% increase on the 2017 finals numbers and double the digital viewership of the EA Sports FIFA 18 Global Series Playoffs held in Amsterdam May 28 – June 3.
On top of the digital platforms, 19 broadcasters delivered the finals to TV viewers across 60 countries.
“The power of real-world sports and esports is a massive multiplier, and this year’s increase in online viewership is indicative of this power coming to life. We’ve dramatically accelerated the growth of competitive gaming through the EA SPORTS FIFA 18 Global Series and this year’s Grand Final, rallying the global football community together within this singular ecosystem that we know will only grow in the seasons to come,” said Todd Sitrin, General Manager and Senior Vice President Competitive Gaming Division at EA SPORTS.
The 2018 competition saw the entry of more than 20 million gamers from 60 countries playing through a series of qualifying competitions to make the final 32.
Mosaad ‘MSDossary’ Aldossary from Saudi Arabia won the title and the $250,000 prize money.
FIFA says that it will “accelerate” is gaming programmes over the next year.
“This year’s FIFA eWorld Cup Grand Final was an important milestone in the progress and continued professionalization of competitive FIFA gaming. Following the move to a new venue and a new format, the success of this year has underlined the unique opportunity that competitive FIFA gaming has to engage with new fans and audiences, as well as how it can support FIFA’s ongoing efforts to drive interest and develop football around the world,” said Jean-Francois Pathy, FIFA Director of Marketing Services.
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