The speculation surrounding the FIFA title continues, with yet another twist in the story!
It now looks like 2K Sports could throw their hat in the ring, so could we see a 'FIFA 2K23' before long?
EA potentially set to rebrand FIFA
If you weren't already aware, EA is thinking about changing the name of FIFA!
Read the official statement from EA Sports Group General Manager, Cam Weber, that sent the community into a frenzy:
"As we look ahead, we’re also exploring the idea of renaming our global EA SPORTS football games.
"This means we’re reviewing our naming rights agreement with FIFA, which is separate from all our other official partnerships and licenses across the football world."
According to the New York Times, EA’s dispute with FIFA is centred around the footballing body’s demands for the game's publisher to pay more than double what it did previously for the FIFA naming rights.
This would amount to an astonishing $2.5 billion over the next decade.
Now that we know this, it's pretty clear to see why EA is seriously considering re-naming their third-oldest franchise.
But, it looks like 2K Sports could swoop in and claim the FIFA title for themselves...
2K Sports to claim FIFA title?
During its latest financial results call on Wednesday, Take-Two CEO, Strauss Zelnick, was asked about the EA-FIFA dispute and if 2K Sports would be interested in taking on the title, should the license become available.
Take-Two, which owns 2K Sports, currently only has one soccer series which is the mobile game, Top Eleven.
Zelnick replied with the following statement:
“We are so thrilled to have Nordeus in the Take-Two family, they’re just crushing it and Top Eleven is a great, beloved title. I just couldn’t be happier to be in the soccer manager business through Top Eleven with the Nordeus team."
“That’s a big step forward for us… we haven’t been in that sport before. And erm, I think I’ll leave it at that today.”
So, judging from this it seems a 2K FIFA 23 could be on the cards!
The battle continues
If the rumours are true, it wouldn't be the first time that Take-Two and EA have battled it out for major sporting rights.
Last year, 2K Sports released PGA Tour 2K21, and recently announced a partnership with long time EA ambassador Tiger Woods, who is set to feature in the PGA Tour 2K22 game.
EA had held the PGA license for 25 years and is reportedly planning its own new PGA Tour game, to be released in 2022.