There's no such thing as FIFA 24 - it's called EA Sports FC 24 now. The next release in the annual association football franchise has a new name that's left many players confused. It looks like FIFA, plays like FIFA, is made by the same people as FIFA, but it's not FIFA. It's been rebranded as EA FC 24 instead.
While the name change isn't the biggest deal - it communicates the same thing as the FIFA title - it does seem like a massive loss in of branding. FIFA itself - the Fédération internationale de football association - is the biggest governing body in soccer. It's been around for almost a century, and billions worldwide tune in to its World Cup every four years. Of course, everything happens for a reason, and that goes for the FIFA name change as well.
EA Has Lost Its License To The FIFA Brand
The main reason that EA Sports FC 24 isn't called FIFA is that EA no longer has access to the license that allows the company to use the FIFA brand. FIFA normally offers companies that use its license to make branded products - like EA - the opportunity for renewal every four years, matching up with the frequency of the World Cup. In 2022, FIFA doled out these licenses for more than $1 billion USD each. It makes sense - association football has never been more popular worldwide, and FIFA games have an excellent track record when it comes to sales. However, EA decided that being able to use the FIFA logo simply wasn't worth the cost, and declined to renew its license.
EA FC 24 Will Offer A More Regionally Tailored Experience
The World Cup comes only once every four years, and regional leagues don't just sit in silence in the interim. While they may not have the international appeal of FIFA, regional leagues do bring in tons of devoted fans, and EA Sports FC 24 will likely focus more on appealing to them. In fact, its announcement trailer has already prominently displayed branding from teams that are part of Major League Soccer, the Premiere League, and the FA Women's Super League, each of which represent the top tier of association football in their home countries and have their own annual championships. Without the FIFA name attached, EA Sports FC 24 will likely throw players into the midst of these contentious tournaments.
The loss of FIFA's seal of approval may seem like a negative aspect of EA FC 24. However, the developers at EA seem to be taking advantage of this opportunity to deliver what could be a more fan-catered experience. Either way, it'll be a difficult habit for the player to drop - many will find themselves still referring to EA FC 24 as FIFA even months after its release.
Source: EA Sports FC/YouTube
