FIFA Just Ditched EA for Konami in Major Move to Support Esports

FIFA has officially parted ways with its long-time video game partner, EA Sports, and joined forces with Konami. This is a big change to the esports scene as the partnership will feature the Japanese company’s eFootball as the exclusive platform for the upcoming FIFAe World Cup.

This collaboration follows the association’s break from a long-standing relationship with EA, which had previously been responsible for its flagship football games. This new deal will see two World Cup events hosted by the entertainment company on mobile and console platforms, a first for both the association and eFootball.

This New Partnership By FIFA Comes Right Before The Start of The World Cup

The decision to partner with Konami follows FIFA’s split from EA in 2022, ending a nearly three-decade-long collaboration that produced the world’s most popular football video game franchise. EA’s rebranding of the series as EA Sports FC left the association in search of new opportunities.

最新ニュースを掲載しました。

コナミデジタルエンタテインメントとFIFAがeスポーツの協業に関する契約を締結 pic.twitter.com/KP6BH2J5Vu

— KONAMI 企業広報・IR (@Konami_PR_IR) October 10, 2024

By choosing eFootball as its esports platform, the association is embracing a new era of competitive gaming. eFootball, formerly known as Pro Evolution Soccer (PES), has been a long-time rival to EA’s own flagship series and is now poised to take center stage in the esports side of the sport.

By aligning itself with the association’s esports investments, the Japanese entertainment company hopes to solidify its position in the market and take advantage of the growing global interest in esports. The collaboration will not only bring eFootball to a wider audience but also solidify its role as a key player in the esports scene.

Take on the world🌍

”FIFAe World Cup 2024™” will be held in #eFootball!

In-game qualifiers ”Round 1 to Round 3″ have kicked off from today🎮📱

Head in-game and become a FIFAe Champion🏆#FeWCeFootball #FameYourGame pic.twitter.com/zBT7lWv5zq

— eFootball (@play_eFootball) October 10, 2024

This year’s World Cup will be the first major tournament under this new partnership, featuring two separate events for console and mobile players. The qualifiers for the tournament have already begun, with 18 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and France, set to compete.

Koji Kobayashi, Senior Executive Officer at the company, expressed excitement at the prospect of the World Cup featuring eFootball. He believes the tournament will usher in a new era for eFootball.

eFootball Is Immediately Getting The Limelight Of This Partnership

The split between FIFA and EA in 2022 was one of the biggest shakeups in the gaming industry, especially given their 29-year history of working together. EA has since moved on with EA FC, retaining many of the major league licenses that helped make its games a household name.

Remember PES (Pro Evolution Soccer) that was a great football game. Well its coming back, sort of.
Having split with EA, FIFA is now joining forces with Konami to produce its game.
It would be a serious contender to EASPORTS FC games, FC25’s being called the worst in the series. pic.twitter.com/a4cB36NL55

— Steam Trader (@SteamTrader) October 10, 2024

As the World Cup starts, the focus will undoubtedly be on how well eFootball can perform as the tournament’s official game. While EA’s dominance in football gaming is undeniable, eFootball will now have the opportunity to prove its worth on one of the world’s biggest stages.

Football’s move into digital arenas has been growing steadily, with both real-life clubs and esports teams becoming increasingly involved in the scene. This latest move signals the association’s recognition of esports as a powerful part of engaging younger audiences and maintaining the sport’s relevance.

Only time will tell how this partnership will reshape the future of football gaming and esports. For fans of both real and virtual football, this partnership is an exciting new chapter.

What are your thoughts on this new partnership? Let us know in the comments!