Opening Thoughts
As somebody who has played FIFA games for over 25 years, I feel that the recent switch to “FC” branding felt like the end of an era. I mean, it feels like everybody still calls it FIFA, but it signaled a more significant change that will change the game’s trajectory throughout the rest of this decade.
EA Sports has already had to deal with some colossal changes, the biggest being the changes the internet ushered in. While all games had to adapt to some degree, for a game that relies so significantly on direct competition, sports games like FIFA had to ensure they were at the forefront of these changes. If they weren’t, and they could corner enough of this substantial market for themselves, they would lose significant ground in the football video gaming world. If FIFA were to lose its monopolistic grip, which nearly happened between the mid to late 2000s with Pro Evolution Soccer, it would spell disaster for EA Sports and the burgeoning eSports market, which we will examine today.
The Power Of eSports
Professional video gaming is a multi-billion dollar sector, even as a standalone sector. However, it’s propped up significantly by the quality of the games that launch their own eSports tournaments and events.
Ultimately, the quality of the game will dictate the popularity of the underlying eSports market that has stemmed from it; other subsidiary markets have sprouted out of it. This includes social media influencers and streamers who use their platforms to stream their endeavors, as well as betting markets, which continue to grow as more betting platforms look to offer a platform for fans to place wagers on upcoming tournaments.
While betting on eSports isn’t a new concept, the growth of online betting, as well as the favorable changes that have resulted in massive growth in prominent countries like the US and Canada, have meant that eSports betting markets have benefited significantly and are set to continue their growth between now and at least 2030.
Some analysts believe it’s set to expand over the next 10 to 15 years. Still, with eSports, a growing multi-million dollar market like betting is emerging as a driving force for investment and future growth, resulting in an eSports revolution.
EA FC Popularity
The sustained staying power of EA Sports’ premier football game is an excellent blueprint for budding video gaming companies looking to establish themselves. I remember in the early 2000s when FIFA would shift millions of copies; nearly 30 years later, each annual installment sells millions of copies.
In the UK, the last FC game was the highest-selling game of 2024. While EA Sports hasn’t released any figures for FC 25, it will likely generate similar figures. What does this mean from a business perspective? This means EA Sports has the financial muscle to put its weight behind eSports. It also means that the talent pool for those looking to enter FC competitions is vast, pushing up the quality of the tournaments and increasing viewing figures.
Some gamers have leveled accusations at EA Sports that they have become complacent with their last few installments of FC purely because they have monopolized the market. In any industry, when a monopoly occurs, this can strip away any incentive to maximize the quality of a design or product. I wouldn’t say this has happened with FC, though; it’s hard to churn cutting-edge games on an annual basis continuously. Given that they jump on any required changes quickly and update gameplay changes and bugs, EA Sports won’t have to worry about losing their grip on the market anytime soon.
How FC Can Establish Itself As An Elite eSport
While FC 25 is an almost guaranteed money spinner every year for EA Sports, it’s comfortably outside the top five eSports markets. Games like Dota 2, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike 2 generate seven-figure prize pools and sell out stadiums. As you can see in the link below, its popularity continues to grow, with the Thunderpick World Championships 2024 showcasing just how big Counter-Strike 2 is becoming in professional video gaming.
Football easily captures global audiences, but the same cannot be said for FC 25 eSports. It’s unfair to compare any game to the might of the top, elite eSports. By their very design, they have an advantage, with a free-roaming world and large team games helping to captivate a larger audience. For the most part, fans of EA Sports FC don’t have the same broad range of action, which can hamper the eSport’s popularity in comparison.
Ultimately, it boils down to prize pools, and if some of the top businesses and names in football decide to put big money into FC 25 eSports, then it could start to challenge some of these more popular titles.
Final Say
It would be a huge gamble, though, and it could not necessarily pay off. In fact, if it could pay off, the chances are that somebody would probably have put their financial backing behind it by now. However, if this changes, then this could be the pathway to FC25 becoming an elite eSports market.