EA Sports has successfully extended its longstanding partnership with the Premier League, cementing its exclusive rights to represent all players, clubs, stadiums, and more in its digital football universe. The renewed deal sees EA Sports maintaining its privileged status as the Premier League’s official video game license holder.
The partnership has existed since the 1998/99 season, with EA Sports serving as the Premier League’s primary partner from 2016 onward. As per the newly extended agreement, EA Sports is set to shell out a whopping £488 million over the next six years. Sky Sports says the deal’s value more than doubles the existing contract between the two parties.
News of the extension comes at an exciting time, as EA Sports prepares to launch its inaugural football game without the FIFA license. This follows a split between the video game behemoth and FIFA, marking the end of their decades-long collaboration.
The new football title, named EA Sports FC, is set to feature all 20 Premier League clubs, including each player, manager, stadium, and even kits. EA and the Premier League have also committed to developing community programs together, including school football initiatives and investment into grassroots facilities through the ‘EA Sports FC Futures’ project.
EA Sports’ breaking away from FIFA to form its own football game series marks a significant shift in the sports video game industry. With an exclusive Premier League deal under its belt, EA Sports FC might be the dawn of a new era in digital football.
