FIFA's first post-EA games will be blockchain-based

FOUR WEB 3.0 GAMES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED TO COINCIDE WITH THE 2022 WORLD CUP.

Following the end of its long-term partnership with EA, FIFA has announced that the first games to use its branding will be Web 3.0 blockchain titles.

Four games will be released to coincide with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, all of which are Web 3.0 titles that make use of blockchain technology in some way.

According to a FIFA press release, "gaming and esports are some of the fastest-growing opportunities for FIFA as it continues to expand into new digital spaces, platforms, and games that are already welcoming football fans on to them."

"The new gaming integrations, all of which are designed with web 3.0 and the future of digital engagement in mind, are playable throughout the tournament and each have a unique twist on the world's biggest football tournament," it continues.

The first game is Altered State Machine's AI League: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Edition, which is a "4-on-4 casual football game played between AI-controlled characters, with player input at fun and tactical moments."

The game will begin with a 10-week prediction component, with "digital and physical prizes" available to those who correctly predict real-life matches, according to a separate release from Altered State Machine.

Participants in the prediction game will earn "four unique collectibles" that will be used to control their AI-controlled players in the FIFA World Cup AI League.

The second is FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which is a collaboration with Uplandme in the Upland Metaverse. Upland is a blockchain-based metaverse in which participants can buy and sell virtual properties.

The FIFA collaboration will allow players to collect "official FIFA World Cup digital assets, including legendary video highlights of the tournament," as well as shop for digital items in a virtual World Cup Lusail Stadium and Village.

The third, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on Phygtl, is a collaboration between Phygtl and a "fan engagement mobile application."

"Fans can augment a golden-globe-football from the palm of their hands into their real-life environment, own a limited fragment of it to attach and eternalize their handpicked FIFA World Cup pictures and video moments," according to the game's description.

According to FIFA, this is "a digital representation of eternal fandom."

AI League: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is the first FIFA-branded game since the football federation's split from EA.

Finally, Matchday Challenge: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Edition has been announced as the fourth game. Matchday is a "highly engaging casual social prediction game based on football cards," according to the press release.

FIFA recently parted ways with its long-time partner EA, with FIFA 23 being the last EA Sports title to bear the FIFA logo.

EA will rebrand its series as EA Sports FC next year, claiming it will usher in "a new era in July 2023."

However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted in a strongly worded statement in May that only games bearing its official licence would be credible to football fans.

"I can assure you that the only genuine, real FIFA game will be the best available for gamers and football fans," he said.

"FIFA is the only globally unique title." FIFA 23, FIFA 24, FIFA 25, and so on - the FIFA name remains constant, and it will remain forever and THE BEST."

In a separate statement released in May, FIFA stated that the separation from EA would allow it to launch new football video games developed with third-party studios and publishers, "providing more choice for football and gaming fans" in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The football governing body said it was in talks with "leading game publishers, media companies, and investors" about developing a new FIFA simulation football game for 2024 that would compete directly with EA Sports FC.

It also claimed that several "non-simulation" games were already in development and would be released in the third quarter of this year, the first of which was described as "a tailored gaming experience" featuring the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Unless other surprises are announced before the tournament begins on November 20, FIFA appears to be referring to the aforementioned Web 3.0 titles.

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