Bruce Dias 
From the outset, EA’s overarching objective was to create a game that meticulously replicated every facet of real football, pixel by pixel, in pursuit of market dominance.
“EA Sports… It’s in the game!”
For most individuals under the age of 50, this association encompasses more than just the slogan. The pressure of a trigger to initiate a sprint, the brief squeeze to enhance a shot, the thumb flick to execute a defender-evading feint—these actions are ingrained in players’ muscle memory, akin to the swipe to open their smartphones.
EA’s unwavering commitment to authenticity has been important in the ascendance of their football gaming empire, even at the detriment of competing titles deemed superior by video game critics. Although players can choose to engage in 90-minute matches, EA FC primarily seeks to distil the pace and excitement of a football match into a more concise 10-minute format, with the in-game clock accelerating appropriately. All aesthetic joys of the real-life game are encapsulated: the step-overs, feints, the dip and curve of a flawlessly arced free kick, the rippling net, the boots with neon laces, and remarking visuals that make you feel like Erling Haaland in the moment.
EA FC’s Influence Beyond the Gaming Chair
As recognised by Guinness World Records, EA Sports, the publisher of the world’s best-selling sports video game franchise, has sold over 355 million units of its 38 football games produced over the past 30 years globally. In 2022, 16 billion matches were contested in FIFA 23, the final instalment in the franchise to feature a collaboration with the sport’s governing organisation.
Following the split, EA Sports and its renowned football series persist under the new title EA Sports FC. The inaugural instalment, EA Sports FC 24, was released last year, and FC 25 dropped earlier this year.
EA Sports FC 25 represents the latest instalment in the renowned video game series developed by the creators of hockey, basketball, football, UFC, hockey, and F1 games, including Madden. However, the soccer series has advanced its brand, objectives, and purpose.
FC is not merely a video game; it has evolved into a platform that fosters a global passion for football through influences beyond mere involvement. EA Sports FC not only familiarises gamers with the world’s most popular sport but also catalyses the game’s expansion in real life.
EA Sports collaborates with many partners on its FC Futures platform, including the Premier League, UEFA, and Conmebol. Announced in April 2023, the three-year initiative will allocate $10 million worldwide to enhance the sport by developing fields and secure play areas, investing in equipment, and creating a repository of training practices available in five languages for younger players and coaches to access and employ for training purposes.
To promote the advancement of global soccer, EA Sports has augmented its licences with over 350 governing bodies, leagues, and teams, providing access to over 20,000 athletes across 720 teams, 30 leagues, and 120 stadiums in FC 24.
On May 22, EA Sports took another leap in the world of soccer outside of gaming by announcing the establishment of Namibia Futures, a multi-year collaboration with UNICEF aimed at using football to effect social change in Namibia, benefiting over 46,000 children and adolescents.
EA FC Building Esports Communities
EA Sports has begun to establish a more significant position in the esports industry. The corporation has emphasised partnerships with licensors that initiate their own programming, such as the EA FC Pro World Championship and the Madden Championship Series.
EA Sports and its affiliates foster fandom by cultivating social communities, whether vast or small. They establish these networks, and gaming communities invest considerable time together while EA connects supporters of teams and individuals who share similar passions.
Esports popularity at top sportsbooks and casinos has also been an evolving factor around growing communities of fans. Many EA FC admirers who previously wagered on real-life soccer games are now doing the same, with professional esports teams competing in EA FC. Some of the most avid casino players can check out an entirely different aspect of iGaming and sports betting, thus strengthening EA’s fan communities as a whole.
Women’s Soccer & Reinforcing Soccer Fandom
Promoting diversity and equal treatment of female players and clubs has also been a goal. EA incorporated 12 women’s national teams in FIFA 16 and featured women’s clubs from the WSL, UEFA Women’s Champions League, NWSL, WSL, and Division I Féminine. Fast forward to FC 24, and they’ve advanced such offerings by incorporating clubs from the Frauen-Bundesliga in Germany and the Lifa F in Spain while introducing female players to its renowned Ultimate Team game mode for the first time.
The EA Sports brand has strengthened the passion of dedicated soccer enthusiasts. It continues to engage new and casual fans with some of the most prominent existing and former players, clubs, and leagues globally.
EA Sports collaborated with the marketing firm Two Circles to undertake a study on the franchise’s reach. The study revealed that over 60 million soccer fans globally were solely supporters due to the video game.
The relationship is particularly pronounced in the United States, where football is expanding under the influence of the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, propelled by a tech-savvy, youthful, and diverse audience.
