EA’s FIFA Games Might Be History, But Rematch Could Fill the Gap

In ’93, right, there was this wild thing where EA teamed up with FIFA to make a game. A soccer one. Well, duh, right? It was for the Sega Genesis and called FIFA International Soccer. Honestly, I had no idea it was gonna blow up like it did—500,000 copies in the first month. Yeah, I know, sounds nuts now, but it was a big deal back then. I think EA figured it’d do well, but even they were like, “Whoa, hang on a sec!” when the numbers came in.

So, bam! This game kind of kicks off this juggernaut we all know as the FIFA video game franchise. And man, it’s wild to think, but it totally took over. By 2021, they’d sold, what, 325 million copies? Just let that sink in. And then, outta nowhere, in 2022, EA goes and splits with FIFA. Like, poof! No more FIFA-branded games from them. They’re still in the soccer game biz, but yeah, the FIFA series as we knew it—gone. Couldn’t believe it. I even heard mutters about Sloclap and their game, Rematch, getting into the FIFA spirit somehow. Not sure how that’s gonna pan out, though.

Oh, and speaking of Rematch—ever heard of it? Kinda sneaked up on us. Sloclap’s the crew behind it. They did Absolver and Sifu, which are these martial arts games. So, a soccer game? Sort of a curveball from them. Anyway, Rematch is this 5v5 thing, and it’s all colorful and quirky. Came out pretty recently and folks are digging it—sold over a million copies in just a few days. It’s even on Xbox Game Pass, so loads of people are checking it out.

Now, here’s a thought—Sloclap should totally do a FIFA collab. I know, I know, it sounds a bit wacky. But seriously, just slapping some FIFA-branded swag in Rematch could be a hit. They’ve already put in stuff like a Puma set and a skin of Marc-André ter Stegen. I guess some people might roll their eyes at paying for FIFA-themed gear, but it could be a riot. The FIFA name carries a lot of weight, especially in Europe. It might just be the boost they need.

Anyway, it’s a wait-and-see game now. Are FIFA games truly toast, or will they rise again—in some other form? We’ll just have to watch this space.