Programming and gameplay be damned, sports games live and die by their licensing. That is, why Driving me crazy could destroy NFL2kand therefore EA FIFA (now known as EA Sports FC) was able to grind Konamis PES in the dust. Not because they’re better games, but because they’re paid to be the only games that feature the actual teams you want to see play in the leagues you want to see them play.
It should therefore come as no surprise to anyone that the sums of money needed to secure these rights are fast approaching astronomic
Heaven reports that “20 Premier League clubs were informed at a meeting on Friday that a new six-year partnership with EA Sports, valued at around £488million, is nearing completion”. If it closes under these terms, it will total around $588 million. So what would EA get for that spend? This is how the publisher describes it FIFA 23 Website:
EA SPORTS FIFA 23 is the only place where you can experience the competition, energy and excitement of the world’s most popular league. Play with all 20 Premier League clubs, complete with their 2022/23 kits and logos and an authentic pre-match broadcast, commentary and choreography package making it the most authentic representation of the league; exclusively for FIFA 23 players.
As Sky too reportIt’s estimated to be “worth more than double the existing deal the two parties are involved in.” That is a much
If you’re wondering how the heck EA can afford such sums, consider this The last time the publisher reported financial results for the sale of its digital Ultimate Team cards– which exist in Driving me crazy as well, but which are globally dominated by FIFA Fans – they had earned $1.6 billion.