Is FIFA going free-to-play, FIFA lovers? Well, according to a new report, it is, but not in time for FIFA 22 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. This week, Konami announced that PES — FIFA’s only space rival — is no longer PES but football and free-to-play.
Upon this announcement, many wondered when and if FIFA would follow suit and go free-to-play itself. Well, it’s not going free-to-play with FIFA 22, but according to a new report, FIFA 23 will be free-to-play.
Now, FIFA is free to play.
FIFA lovers are waiting for it.
The world’s biggest football franchise will reportedly be free to play as of the release of FIFA 23 next year; however, FIFA 22 will still be the full retail price.
The FIFA series has been a massive seller for EA for well over two decades, with the likes of FIFA 95 and 96 being console movers in the days of the Sega Megadrive. The most recent iteration, FIFA 21, was also a big mover for the company. With it now being available on the EA Play subscription services, there’s even more chance for people to get into the biggest football game on the planet.
EA can afford to look at a free-to-play model for FIFA 23 because the FIFA Ultimate Team series is still a huge money-making machine when it comes to micro-transactions.
Players buying FIFA Points to get packs has been a big reason FIFA’s YouTube community has grown year after year. The upselling of these micro-transactions have followed suit, meaning that EA can really boost their profits of packs and points if the base game is available to more players than ever without a barrier to entry (like a £59.99 base game price).
It remains to be seen if the rumor from Donk will gather any pace; however, it would make sense for EA to consider a free-to-play model as the series grows more as an eSport to compete with League of League Legends, DOTA 2, and CS: GO.
The FIFA collection has been a large vendor for EA for nicely over twenty years, with the likes of FIFA 95 and 96 being console movers within the days of the Sega Megadrive. The latest iteration, FIFA 21, was additionally a giant mover for the corporate, and with it now being obtainable on the EA Play subscription companies, there’s much more likely for folks to get into the most important soccer recreation on the planet.
Read The best free PS5 games for you.
A can afford to have a look at a free-to-play mannequin for FIFA 23 as a result of the FIFA Final Workforce collection continues to be an enormous money-making machine on the subject of micro-transactions.
The Bottom Line
With the recent announcement that Pro Evolution Soccer would be rebranding as eFootball and changing into a free-to-play format, it appears as though FIFA will be following suit as of FIFA 23, likely to be released in September 2022.
The report comes from FIFA insider Donk, who releases news on Twitter concerning the EA Sports series. Donk not only reveals that FIFA 23 will be free to play but also that it will be cross-platform, meaning that players across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch may be able to compete together and likely share the same eco-system when it comes to FIFA Ultimate Team.
The game will be available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC this August – with iOS and Android versions to follow.
Series producer Seitaro Kumara said it would take a different approach with regular updates to the game – yearly updates for each new season will be free.
Football will launch free with exhibition matches which will allow players to choose from nine clubs initially.