The Uncertain Fate of Madden Series: Is It Next in Line After FIFA?
EA's Madden series may undergo a transformative revamp, similar to FIFA's recent rebranding, signaling potential changes ahead
Highlights
EA is changing the name of the FIFA franchise to EA Sports FC, a move that may indicate future changes for the Madden franchise as well.
Concerns among fans have been raised about the potential loss of other licenses following the FIFA license revocation. However, it appears that the NFL license is currently secure. The controversies surrounding Madden's microtransactions and bugs have sparked criticism, potentially intensifying discontent and competitiveness within the football gaming industry.
EA's sports titles, including Battlefield and The Sims, are widely popular and bring in significant revenue. Every year, millions of players eagerly anticipate the release of new FIFA or Madden games to experience the excitement of the upcoming season. Despite the controversies surrounding these annual releases, these franchises show no sign of losing momentum. However, recent events indicate that there may be significant changes in store for these massive franchises in the near future.
It is highly unlikely that EA will ever stop producing sports games due to their immense profitability. Nevertheless, the franchises themselves may undergo substantial transformations in the coming years. For instance, the studio has already started rebranding FIFA as EA Sports FC, and a similar change may occur for Madden in the future. Although these changes are not expected to happen immediately, the familiar Madden experience as players currently know it might soon be subject to permanent alterations.
Madden May Follow in FIFA's Footsteps
Last year, EA made a surprising announcement that it was officially discontinuing its popular soccer series that featured the FIFA name. Despite a 30-year partnership, the brands were unable to reach an agreement on new terms. FIFA demanded $1 billion from EA for the name, while the video game studio sought to expand its monetization practices within the franchise, which FIFA's restrictions did not allow. Consequently, the two brands parted ways, dramatically altering the future of EA Sports.
Although EA will continue producing soccer games that meet players' expectations, it will no longer utilize the FIFA branding. Instead, the games will now be known as EA Sports FC, a change that is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. One consequence of this decision was that 10 FIFA titles were removed from digital storefronts, meaning that players must already possess a copy to access these cherished sports games. It is possible that the two brands may eventually come to new terms, but that is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
EA and the NFL have recently extended their license agreement, ensuring that EA can continue developing Madden games for the next few years. However, the loss of the FIFA license has raised concerns among fans about the potential loss of other licenses by EA. While it appears unlikely that the NFL license will be revoked, the unexpected loss of the FIFA license has made anything possible at this point.
Over the years, Madden fans have increasingly criticized the franchise, which has remained stagnant due to its annual releases. Despite its profitability through microtransactions, Madden is not immune to criticism. The franchise has faced controversy due to issues with its Ultimate Team packs and numerous bugs, with some countries even considering it illegal gambling, particularly within the European Union. Although changes are unlikely in the near future, there is a possibility that the mounting controversy could reach a breaking point soon.
Currently, EA and the NFL appear to have a strong partnership. However, considering FIFA has recently ended its collaboration with the studio, there is a possibility that the NFL might do the same in the future. Although the studio will likely continue to produce football games, it might not always be branded as Madden. In fact, EA Sports could potentially face competition from other football game developers, leading to a healthier rivalry. Madden NFL 24 is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
