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EA nets FIFA license extension

By Tim Surette, GameSpotPosted Apr 26, 2006 4:44 pm PT

International soccer organization in cahoots with publisher through 2014; deal covers sim, manager, fantasy games.

Fans of Electronic Arts' FIFA series got some good news today. Likewise, those who aren't fans are probably crying foul and squirming on the floor clutching their ankles and shins.

The game publishing giant today has extended its exclusive license with FIFA through 2014, the soccer organization announced today. The deal grants EA the rights to make FIFA-branded soccer games in the sim, manger, and fantasy genres. The agreement covers console games, mobile phone games, and Web-based games.

The marriage between EA and FIFA appears to be going well. The two made their first vows way back in 1993, when EA released FIFA International Soccer for the Genesis. The company expanded the FIFA universe with FIFA Street in 2005. To put things in perspective, by the time this deal is over the two will have enjoyed a 21-year matrimony.

The latest FIFA-branded EA game is 2006 FIFA World Cup, which dribbles into stores this week. Today's deal almost ensures two more World Cup soccer games from EA in 2010 and 2014.

In the sports sector, EA currently has exclusive deals with FIFA, NASCAR, the National Football League, the Arena Football League, NCAA College Football, the PGA, and pro golfer Tiger Woods.

62 Comments

  • Basssura

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 9:08 pm PT

    It took me a while to give up on EA Sports but I was finally strong enough 2 years ago when the whole NFL monopoly thing came out, and I could not be happier. I saved over $200 by not buying either Fifa or Madden. EA forgot a long time ago about any of us and is getting filthy rich by scamming the ignorant idiots who keep buying their crapgames which are a just mere roster update. Boycott EA games!! It should be illegal anyway to monopolize the industry, but legal or not , the consumer at the end will always dictate the ultimate profits and I've seen an increasingly negative vibe about EA that will catch up with them sooner rather than later.

  • mash_2006

    Posted Jul 8, 2006 3:44 pm PT

    i think EA is always great at the license and players names and likeness and studiums but the things is more important are game play and more exciting in the game and graphic which i think EA don't take care to this thinks the license is very important but the most imortant thing is game playe that EA can't do it well and PES is very success at this but i think konami must try to get license to have the best performance

  • thekey

    Posted Jun 29, 2006 4:35 am PT

    If the NFL exstends its license after 2009 I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER EA SPORTS GAME AGAIN!!!!!

    I agree with HuhjustaBox, don't buy EA's exclusive licences, and there BS games, there all overrated any way.(ecept the games the were not originally EA games in the first place)

    Never in 25 years would I ever say this until now, if EA takes over the gaming industry I WILL QUIT PLAYING VIDEO GAMES ALL TOGETHER!!!!!!

  • Neoian127

    Posted Jun 25, 2006 11:54 am PT

    FIFA rocks!!!!almost everything better than PES you just have to listen to the commentary to notice, in PES5 its awful i cant wait for FIFA07 to come out

  • pyth0n13

    Posted May 11, 2006 6:02 am PT

    i hate how ea tries to control everything and then do a crappy job 'cause there's no competetion

  • khggame

    Posted Apr 28, 2006 11:54 am PT

    Pro Evolution Soccer is much better, than FIFA!!

  • mrblah00

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 11:05 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • mrblah00

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 11:03 pm PT

    Oh well

    EA spends all their money on liscensing, Konami spends all their money on development and gameplay.

    All this means is that Konami will keep on churning out a superior playing soccer game since they cant waste the budget on crap like names and logos.

    Konami probably wouldnt spend whatever EA is spending even if they had the option, since they know whats really important in a GAME.

    Either way we should thank EA, this move just gurantees a better playing PES for several more years. Gaming is an art, not a buisness, thats something EA forgot a long time ago.

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 5:59 pm PT

    wow more awful EA yearly updates. still, it'll keep 360 afloat for another month or two.

  • Falcon_75thR

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 3:44 pm PT

    I'm going to stop playing EA Games... they're usually no good anyways, just got bloody licences. As stated before, WE/PES kicks butt, Fifa sucks.

  • iestynx

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 1:58 pm PT

    They'll never get me to switch from WE / PES, played the latest FIFA and it feels like playing FIFA on the PS1, nothing's changed, and it seems like they'll never get it right, licence or no licence.

  • Septimus

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 1:44 pm PT

    Shame, would rather a company got it that would put out quality rather than quantity.

  • i-dunno

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 1:37 pm PT

    EA are going to end up killing the game industry by filling it up with crap, like the ea sports games. the only relatively recent ea game i felt was worth the money was ssx tricky, which was £30 a few years ago. Pro Evo will always be better than Ea's FIFA games.

  • HuhJustaBox

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 1:28 pm PT

    DOWN WITH EA!!!!! Please, everyone show EA that no one likes what they are doing. Make EA eat their bull$hit licences by not buying any EA games. They are single handedly ruining gaming as we know it. Wake up fellow gamers and begin boycotting... or kiss your beloved hobby goodbye.

  • aatish_n

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 12:36 pm PT

    Damn, they're almost married

  • buckybuckster

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 11:16 am PT

    Another step taken in EA's quest to gradually take over the industry, one licencing deal at a time. Capitalism is an awesome thing, but EA makes it seem like a perverse and seedy sort of sham. Compete not by improving our product, clearly setting it apart from our competitors, oh no, we'll just buy up and licence up everything on God's green earth, so the only choices gamers will have, will be the ones we allow them to make. Rumor has it EA is currently in talks with the sun to have exclusive rights to daylight through 2010...ya heard it here first...Buckster out...

  • lageasy311

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 9:52 am PT

    yippy skippy

  • macacd

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 9:25 am PT

    terrible news.

  • decebal

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 7:54 am PT

    EA SUCKS!

  • moonknight

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 7:47 am PT

    EA STANDARD - pretty graphics - dumb down gameplay for dumb gamers = $$ (ie: MADDEN) Exclusive agreements kill creativity!

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