EA’s FIFA Games Might Be Over, But Rematch Could Step In

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Okay, so it was way back in 1993 when EA decided to buddy up with FIFA and, bam! Out came FIFA International Soccer on the Sega Genesis. I mean, who would’ve thought it’d be such a whirlwind success, right? Over half a million copies flying off the shelves in just a month! That’s nuts. And yeah, sure, EA figured they’d got a winner on their hands with the FIFA branding and all, but even they got taken by storm with how big this thing grew.

This game really lit the fuse for what we’d later call the FIFA franchise. It’s like EA hit the jackpot or something—this series smashed its way past competitors and became EA’s crown jewel in the sports world. Fast forward, what, to 2021? And we’re talking over 325 million copies sold worldwide! Mind-blowing numbers. But then, in 2022, it was like… plot twist! EA and FIFA split ways. End of an era. EA’s still doing their soccer thing but without the FIFA tag, so basically, you can pretty much say the FIFA franchise has taken a nap, maybe forever. But hey, don’t count the FIFA name out just yet—looks like it might pop up in new games, like Sloclap’s Rematch. Who knows, right?

Speaking of Rematch, let’s dive in. This game went and did the unexpected. I mean, how many non-EA soccer games actually make waves these days? Not many, that’s for sure. Konami’s PES is still hanging in there, though its latest, eFootball, kinda bombed with fans. Cue Rematch—comes out of nowhere and catches the eye. Imagined by Sloclap, a French dev known more for martial arts games like Absolver and Sifu than soccer, they rolled out this colorful, third-person 5v5 sport game that’s just… fun. Like, seriously, the game hits Xbox Game Pass and, whoosh! A million copies gone in days. By June 25, they’re looking at three million players. Wild stuff!

And here’s a thought—why not mix things up with some FIFA-branded gear in Rematch? Crazy? Maybe, but totally possible. Sloclap’s already into the whole collab thing. Not too long ago, they dropped a Puma set and a Marc-André ter Stegen in-game skin. So, imagine a FIFA logo on a cool kit. Some folks might roll their eyes, but I’m betting FIFA fans would queue up for it. Remember, loads of loves for FIFA is just about the brand itself, especially in Europe. Slapping FIFA onto Rematch as a collab? It could easily crank up the game’s buzz. No new FIFA games in sight, but a Rematch collaboration? Kinda close, don’t you think?