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

Oh wow, where do I even start with this? It feels like 1993 was just yesterday, even though I’m totally lying because… who remembers specifics from that far back? But hang on, let’s go back to when EA joined forces with FIFA for that mind-blowing Sega Genesis game, FIFA International Soccer. Not trying to exaggerate, but it was a mega hit right out of the gate, selling over half a million copies in just a month! I guess EA kinda saw this coming, with the whole first-ever FIFA branding and all, but it went above and beyond even their wild expectations. Like, seriously, how often does that happen?

Fast forward to the whole FIFA franchise beast thing. Funny how something kicks off as a blip and turns into a cornerstone of gaming. This FIFA game series became EA’s crown jewel, dramatically overtaking everything else in sports gaming history. It’s like the Beatles of soccer video games or something. Over 325 million copies were snapped up around the globe by 2021. But then, in 2022, outta nowhere, EA ditched the FIFA license. Just like that. Poof! So now they’re doing soccer games with a different name. But uh, the classic FIFA magic? That’s… well, buried six feet under. The surprising bit? Rumors float about the FIFA label possibly popping up somewhere else, maybe in Sloclap’s creation Rematch. Intriguing, right?

So here we have Rematch, a non-EA triumph. Let me paint a picture for you: today’s console scene is, sadly, kinda limited when it comes to soccer games. Remember the Konami guys with Pro Evolution Soccer? Yeah, the new game eFootball didn’t exactly win hearts. But meanwhile, Rematch has been quietly winning over players. This isn’t just another soccer game; it’s from Sloclap, previously known for those martial arts games like Sifu. Yup, a 5v5 third-person soccer game, unexpectedly fun. It just dropped a few weeks ago and already hit crazy numbers — millions in both sales and players.

Oh, and just a quick sidebar, Rematch is on Xbox Game Pass, so technically not everyone playing has bought it, but who’s counting? I mean, I am, clearly, but what…

So here’s a wild idea: what if Sloclap takes their Rematch success and sprinkles in some FIFA-branded bling? Not turning it into a FIFA game per se, but imagine some snazzy logos or jerseys? They’re already in cahoots with brands like Puma and have added skins for real players. Why not go wild with FIFA stuff? People love to scoff at paying for digital cosmetics — I’m guilty as charged — but things with the FIFA stamp are a bit like hotcakes. Remember, EA’s FIFA thrived on the brand itself. Tossing some FIFA-inspired items into Rematch could skyrocket its popularity even more.

So yeah, that’s where we’re at. FIFA as we knew it is kind of in hibernation mode, but a cheeky collab with Rematch could be the next best thing. Like, wouldn’t it be a curveball if Rematch became the new go-to for FIFA fans? Life, just full of surprises.

Anyway, that’s the scoop. Peace out.