‘Football Is Yours’: EA Sports Launches FC 24 To Global Video Game Community

By Barry Janoff

September 29, 2023: Calling it “the beginning of a new era in football,” Electronic Arts today launched worldwide EA Sports FC 24, alongside EA Sports FC Mobile, as the first new experiences in the EA Sports FC platform of global football fandom powered by video games.

Following a decision by Electronic Arts in May 2022 to end its three-decade alliance with FIFA, EA said it would begin publishing games under a new EA Sports Football Club brand in 2023,

The worldwide launch enables people to join “6.8 million players who have already played EA Sports FC 24 through Early Access.

“Today marks a milestone moment as we welcome millions of fans to the club with EA Sports FC,” Nick Wlodyka, svp/GM of EA Sports FC, said via the video game firm.

“There is massive innovation at the heart of FC 24, combined with a commitment to authenticity, and together they deliver an unparalleled, entertaining experience that is expansive, true-to-life, and above all — brings together a football community with our fans at the center.”

The release comes with a multi-media campaign anchored by a promo trailer, “Football Is Yours.”

This past July, EA Sports unveiled a multi-year global partnership with PepsiCo making three of its flagship brands — Pepsi, Gatorade, and Lay's —  “proud new partners of EA Sports FC.”

EA Sports FC 24 is available now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

After concluding its FIFA alliance, EA signed deals with leagues including the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, WSL, NWSL, UEFA Women's Champions League, the Barclays Women’s Super League and CONMEBOL.

“EA Sports FC is our greatest ever expression of interactive football, and will connect fans around the world with the sport like never before.” David Jackson, vp-brand, EA Sports FC, said via the company.

“Together with 19,000 athletes, over 700 teams and 30-plus leagues, we’re kicking off this new chapter with FC 24 by bringing unprecedented levels of authenticity and innovation to football fans everywhere.”

The EA Sports-LaLiga pact was put at $30.7 million per season by Marca, Spain’s national daily sports newspaper. 

LaLiga clubs include Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Atlético Madrid and Valencia.

“This partnership with EA Sports is set to truly transform the way football is enjoyed around the world,” Óscar Mayo, executive director, LaLiga, said via the league when the deal was unveiled.

EA FC 24“Moreover the alliance demonstrates LaLiga is a global brand, evidence of the success of our league to connect with fans internationally.”

LaLiga and EA Sports said they are “committed to grassroots initiatives to grow the game, which will include increasing accessibility, upgrading facilities, and many more initiatives to truly immerse fans into the world of football.

EA Sports and FIFA had been aligned since 1993 but were unable to agree on a new licensing deal.

According to The New York Times, EA Sports-FIFA games “generated more than $20 billion in sales.”

"Money plays a critical role in most negotiations, but the reason we are doing this is to create the very best experiences we can for both players and partners,” Jackson, told BBC Sports at the time. "As part of that you consider whether or not your investment in one place is better or worse than an investment in another.

"On balance, over time, we felt that our investments were better suited in spaces that were most important to players, like the different experiences we can now build in the game. For our partners, it's the way we can welcome and engage them into a platform that talks to 150 million young football fans around the world."

EA Sports FC Signs Gatorade, Pepsi, Lay’s For Global Launch

EA Previews EA Sports FC Universe: ‘Interactive Future Of Football’

EA Sports Continues To Build Post-FIFA Alliances

EA-FIFA Ending 30-Year, $20B Alliance

Back to Home Page