On the eve of the release of
2006 FIFA World Cup, officials from major game publisher Electronic Arts have announced that the company has extended its long-term partnership with soccer governing body FIFA until 2014.
Until that time Electronic Arts will remain the sole worldwide FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) licensee for soccer action simulation, manager and arcade style games across all console platforms, PC, handheld platforms, mobile phones and online formats.
"Renewing our strategic partnership with FIFA will enable us to continue to deliver the most authentic football titles to fans who have helped to make our FIFA games the most successful football videogame franchise in the world," said Electronic Art's Gerhard Florin, executive vice president and general manager for international publishing.
The deal will include two more World Cup events in 2010 and 2014, as well as potentially eight more yearly titles in the
FIFA and
FIFA Street franchises. Although the core
FIFA franchise does not enjoy quite the level of dominance around the world that Electronic Arts’
Madden NFL franchise does in the U.S. the series is still the best selling soccer series in the world, despite increasing competition from Konami’s
Winning Eleven/
Pro Evolution Soccer games.
