Summary
Electronic Arts has recently removed a total of 10FIFAtitles from various digital storefronts, leaving fans of the popular soccer franchise puzzled. As gamers noticed the absence ofFIFAtitles, questions have arisen about the reasons behind this unexpected delisting.
FIFAis 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 theFIFAname.
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As reported by Twitter user MauroNL, Electronic Arts made the sudden decision to remove everyFIFAtitle 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 whileFIFA 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 forFIFA 23. An update states, “At the request of the publisher,EA Sports FIFA 23is unlisted on the Steam store and will not appear in search.” Although it’s still unclear, this removal might have something to dowith the release ofEA Sports FC 24, the next title in the franchise.
EA’s decision to delist theseFIFAtitles 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 theend of its nearly 30-year partnership withFIFA, this also raises the possibility that all of this was caused by EA no longer having theFIFAlicense.
This move represents a significant shift in EA’s approach to soccer-themed games. Even though players already haveearly access toEA 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 theseFIFAtitles from digital storefronts leaves players wondering when they will be able to access these games again.
EA Sports FC 24will launch on September 29 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
