Highlights
- Fans are puzzled by the sudden removal of 10 FIFA titles from digital storefronts, leaving questions about the reasons behind this decision.
- Electronic Arts removed FIFA titles from various platforms, making them inaccessible for purchase, just days before the release of its new title, EA Sports FC 24.
- The removal of these FIFA titles may be a marketing move for the upcoming release or a result of EA no longer having the FIFA license, representing a significant shift in the company's approach to soccer games.
- EA has yet to provide an official explanation for the delistings.
Electronic Arts has recently removed a total of 10 FIFA titles from various digital storefronts, leaving fans of the popular soccer franchise puzzled. As gamers noticed the absence of FIFA titles, questions have arisen about the reasons behind this unexpected delisting.
FIFA is arguably the most popular soccer video game franchise, so the sudden removal of these titles raises several questions. It is currently unclear exactly when these games were delisted, and EA has yet to provide an official statement regarding this decision. What's even more concerning is that this move by Electronic Arts was made two days before the release of its new title, EA Sports FC 24, which has abandoned the FIFA name.
As reported by Twitter user MauroNL, Electronic Arts made the sudden decision to remove every FIFA title from 14 up to 23 across all platforms, rendering them inaccessible for purchase from virtual stores that had previously offered them, including the Epic Games Store, the Microsoft Store, the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Steam. Users are unable to access these titles as the links to purchase them are no longer functional. It's worth noting that while FIFA 23, the latest installment to date, is no longer available for purchase on digital storefronts, it remains playable for those with an EA Play membership.
As noted by VGC, some hints regarding the removal can be found in the messages displayed on the Steam page for FIFA 23. An update states, "At the request of the publisher, EA Sports FIFA 23 is unlisted on the Steam store and will not appear in search." Although it's still unclear, this removal might have something to do with the release of EA Sports FC 24, the next title in the franchise.
EA's decision to delist these FIFA titles comes as a surprise to many, especially considering the franchise's longstanding popularity and legacy. Therefore, it wouldn't be a surprise if this were merely a marketing move to pave the way for the upcoming release. However, since EA announced the end of its nearly 30-year partnership with FIFA, this also raises the possibility that all of this was caused by EA no longer having the FIFA license.
This move represents a significant shift in EA's approach to soccer-themed games. Even though players already have early access to EA Sports FC 24, fans are eager to see what the future holds for the publisher's soccer gaming endeavors. As the gaming community eagerly awaits further details and clarifications from EA, the removal of these FIFA titles from digital storefronts leaves players wondering when they will be able to access these games again.
EA Sports FC 24 will launch on September 29 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
Source: VGC