US Trends

what happened to fifa games

FIFA games didn’t disappear — they just changed name and branding after a big split between EA Sports and FIFA, and are now sold as EA Sports FC instead of “FIFA”.

What happened to FIFA games?

The big change: from “FIFA” to “EA Sports FC”

For about 30 years, EA Sports made the officially licensed FIFA football games (FIFA 94 through FIFA 23), using the FIFA name and logo under a paid license. Around 2022, negotiations between EA and FIFA broke down because FIFA reportedly wanted a much bigger licensing fee and EA also wanted more freedom to use the game as a broader football platform.

Instead of paying more, EA kept all its other licenses (like club, league, and player rights) but dropped the “FIFA” name. That is why, from 2023 onward, the series is called EA Sports FC (for example, “EA Sports FC 24”) even though it is effectively a continuation of the old FIFA series.

So “FIFA the video game” is officially dead in name, but the game itself is still alive as EA Sports FC.

What’s actually different now?

On the pitch, it’s more evolution than total reboot.

  • Same developer, same core engine, similar gameplay structure, new title and branding.
  • Most major club and league licenses (Premier League, La Liga, etc.) are still there because EA holds them separately from FIFA’s world-governing-body license.
  • Ultimate Team-style modes, online divisions, and seasonal content continue under the new EA Sports FC branding.

What’s missing is the official FIFA World Cup branding and name inside the yearly title, because that was tied to the FIFA license. EA can still create international tournaments, but not market them as “FIFA World Cup” in the same official way.

Why people are asking “what happened to FIFA games?”

If you stopped playing after something like FIFA 20 or FIFA 21 and came back in 2024–2026, a few things can be confusing:

  1. The name is gone from stores
    • You won’t see “FIFA 25” or “FIFA 26”; you’ll see “EA Sports FC 24” (and future FC titles).
  1. World Cup hype vs. game branding
    • The real-world FIFA World Cup 2026 is heavily promoted and bigger than ever, with 48 teams and 104 matches across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
 * But the main EA football game no longer uses the “FIFA World Cup” label inside the title itself, which makes the branding feel different from older years where “FIFA 18 World Cup” style updates were normal.
  1. Community and forum chatter
    • On forums, when people say “What happened to FIFA?”, they often mean either the name change or issues like matchmaking, team balance, and rare-card opponents in entry divisions.
 * Many returning players expect the old “FIFA 20” vibe but run into heavy meta squads and aggressive monetization in online modes, which adds to the feeling that “FIFA” changed or vanished.

Forum-style view: what players say vs what actually changed

Here’s a quick multi-angle breakdown, like a forum digest:

1. Branding and licensing angle

  • Fans:
    • “FIFA is dead; EA killed it for more profit.”
  • Reality:
    • EA dropped the FIFA name after a licensing dispute but kept most leagues, clubs, and players by dealing directly with them.
* FIFA lost its long-time game partner and now has to find other developers if it wants an official “FIFA” game again.

2. Gameplay and feel

  • Fans:
    • Some say the new EA Sports FC doesn’t feel very different from late “FIFA” entries, just more live-service and microtransactions.
  • Reality:
    • The series continues its yearly incremental updates: new animations, tweaks, and modes, but no radical reset, because it’s the same internal team and tech line.

3. Matchmaking and online frustration

  • Fans:
    • Returning players often ask on forums why they face stacked, rare-card squads even in low divisions or early placement.
  • Reality:
    • Skill-based matchmaking interacts with squad strength and the economy of packs and promos, so many players quickly field very strong teams, even at lower ranks.
* That’s why someone returning from FIFA 20 can feel outgunned immediately, adding to the perception that “FIFA isn’t what it used to be.”

Where things stand now (2026)

  • In stores and platforms, the old FIFA line has effectively become EA Sports FC , with yearly installments.
  • The real FIFA organization is focused on the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring 48 teams and spread across three host countries, which keeps the FIFA name very visible in real-world football rather than in gaming.
  • Online communities now commonly say “FC” for the game and “FIFA” mainly when talking about the governing body or the World Cup.

Mini FAQ: “What happened to FIFA games?”

  1. Can I still play older FIFA games?
    • Yes, older titles like FIFA 20 or FIFA 23 still exist, though online services may be reduced or shut down over time depending on the specific game and platform policies.
  1. Is there any new game still called “FIFA”?
    • As of now, the big annual football sim from EA is called EA Sports FC, not FIFA, and FIFA has not launched an equally large replacement series under its own brand name.
  1. So what do I buy if I want “the new FIFA”?
    • You look for EA Sports FC (e.g., EA Sports FC 24 and later) — that’s the direct continuation of what used to be FIFA 23 and earlier.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.