EA Sports Role in Enhancing The Digital Engagement of Football Fans
In the modern realm of sports, the digital engagement of fans is a crucial element in the success and popularity of clubs in Europe. With many interactive features, FIFA has been a leading platform for fans to stay engaged with their favorite clubs. It provides a virtual platform where fans can compete, interact, and engage with each other outside of a stadium. FIFA has been working to distribute the excitement and passion related to football effectively worldwide. One of their most outstanding contributions to the global sports world has been the partnership between FIFA and EA Sports, which was recently rebranded as EA Sports FC. Before the split between EA Sports and FIFA, the game generated more than $20 billion in sales over two decades due to its ability to engage and excite football fans through its unique gaming platform or introduce new people to the sport. The latest EA Sports FC is not only a video game but is “expanded into a platform to grow the love of soccer worldwide through impact that goes beyond interactivity” (Forbes, 2023). The new version of this game also adds a feature that allows male and female players to play against each other in Ultimate Team Mode. This addition did receive backlash as fans stated that the differences in skills should be highlighted in the game as they are in real life. John Shepherd discussed this decision: “We feel we can play a really important role in the growth of that sport in introducing it to all of our fans. We just have this conviction that we believe we want to unite the world around football" (IGN, 2023). This addition fosters inclusivity by diversifying the player base and expanding the gaming community, ultimately maximizing the opportunities for digital engagement worldwide. Esports works to improve the digital experience and maximize the engagement of fans around the world due to its high accessibility and ability to bring new aspects of socialization among fans from the comfort of their own homes. The popularity of Esports among European clubs brings many opportunities for digital engagement through virtual competitions, engaging with gaming communities, and exploring new clubs and players. Along with this, the gaming realm of European sports brings the opportunity to venture into new markets globally to engage with diverse audiences who may not be familiar with European clubs, further diversifying their fanbase.
- Samantha Talt
How do you see the relationship between traditional sports fandom and esports evolving in the coming years, particularly in Europe?
What opportunities do you envision for European clubs to collaborate with esports organizations or host virtual events to enhance fan engagement and revenue streams?
Browning, Kellen. "FIFA and EA Sports Extend Video Game Licensing Agreement." The New York Times, 10 May 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/05/10/sports/soccer/fifa-ea-sports.html.
Skrebels, Joe. "EA's Message to People Upset Women Can Play with Men in FIFA 24 Ultimate Team Kick-Off Mode is Right There." IGN, IGN, 23 Feb. 2023, www.ign.com/articles/eas-message-to-people-upset-women-can-play-with-men-in-fc-24-ultimate-team-kick-off-mode-is-right-there.
Lore, Michael. "The Power and Influence of EA Sports FC 24 Expands Beyond Video Games." Forbes, 2 Oct. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/michaellore/2023/10/02/the-power-and-influence-of-ea-sports-fc-24-expands-beyond-video-games/?sh=5a62170b7573.
Though not one of the questions that you had posed, I wanted to jump in to share my thoughts on the development of game modes where male and female players can play against each other. I think that this is a very cool expansion of the game that provides the chance for FIFA to reach a larger audience of gamers. As a young girl who did not play football, I did not ever really get into esports. I did not keep up with the teams enough to want to play a game with famous male players. However, I think that the introduction of female players would have greatly motivated me to try out esports. This change allows young girls to see themselves represented within the game, prompting them to want to participate more. While some may criticize the varying skill levels of different genders, I do not believe that this needs to be a relevant consideration. While esports do try to replicate the actual game of football, they are still not the real thing, they are an online version. This means they hold the power to change some of the factors that exist within real football. The ability to create a mixed gender team may not be accurate to the real game, but I think it is a great opportunity to expand the market for the game and encourage young girls to explore the world of esports.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Maddie. I think one of the main reasons why esports is so male-dominated is because of the lack of representations within the game. The introduction of mixed-gender game modes in FIFA isn't just about expanding the market or accommodating different player preferences. It's about fostering inclusivity and breaking down barriers in the gaming community. By allowing male and female players to compete on equal footing within the virtual realm, FIFA sets a progressive example for the gaming industry as a whole.
DeleteAs for the evolution of esports in the coming years, I hope to see an increase in female participants and a game version that receives less backlash and more acceptance from the general population.
I agree with both of you and I think while yes it is emphasizing inclusivity it is also just a smart business strategy. By changing one simple thing about the game (that doesn't actually effect the game) is an easy way to attract more consumers. I know so many people who would try video games if it didn't feel like so much of a "guy thing," so adding women to the game is a great way to change that disparity.
DeleteHi all! Thank you for your comments. I loved hearing your insight on the addition of female players in the game. Growing up, I also was not big on E Sports and I am not sure if that was a result of the lack of female players or whatnot but, I think that this addition will definitely encourage many more young girls and women to want to be a part of this online platform. Ultimately, I really think this feature has the ability to grow the digital engagement and diversity of fans among leagues in Europe. In regards to your comment Kelsey, I completely agree with what you said about how including gender mixed games is not just about expanding the market, but rather fostering inclusivity and breaking down preexisting barriers and stereotypes that file along with women in sports.
DeleteEsports is a great way for teams to expand there presence. I think many opportunities will happen in the future connected to FIFA and European clubs. Soon we will have player meet ups with professional's to make promotional videos and in person experiences. The biggest part is that it can boil down to the kids. FIFA is a game played by many but many kids play without the real connection to higher teams. To answer your first question I think the opportunities are endless and teams will continue to provide virtual connections to players and the sport.
ReplyDeleteHi Tayden! Thanks for your comment. I agree entirely with what you have said about the intersections between FIFA and European Clubs. I also find your point about children super interesting. By allowing kids to be introduced to Clubs and leagues via video games and online techniques, we are giving children very accessible and engaging ways to get involved and learn more about sports! I am very excited to see what opportunities different clubs will take up!
DeleteAs for your second question, I think this is a really interesting thing to look at it. European clubs are trying to build their 'extracurricular' activities, whether it be by upgrading their stadium or having shopping malls in their stadiums, to build revenue. I think that esports is perfect for European society as, especially with football, FIFA is the number one thing that most kids do. Having partnerships with esports and hosting cool events, would be a great way to boost fan engagement and bride the gap with the local communities. Teams can host events where their players are at the events, can sell exclusive merchandise, and gain a diverse range of sponsorships that would unlock many new revenue streams and bring a ton of fans with it.
ReplyDeleteHey Jaden! Thanks for your comment. I like your idea about hosting events with local communities. I am wondering, though, if you think this is a risky strategy. I think what makes E-Sports so successful, especially for children, is the ability to play from home without needing a parent, transportation, etc. Do you think enough children would show up to these events? Do you believe enough parents would allow their children to spend money on exclusive merchandise?
DeleteI found this post really interesting because I'm a big fan of playing FIFA. It effectively highlights the significance of digital engagement in sports, especially through platforms like FIFA and Esports. I appreciate how it discusses the evolution of FIFA from just a video game to a platform that aims to grow the love of soccer globally. The addition of features like male and female players competing against each other in Ultimate Team Mode shows a commitment to inclusivity, although there's understandable backlash from some fans regarding the portrayal of skill differences. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read, especially for someone who enjoys gaming like myself.
ReplyDeleteHi Bryan! Thanks for your feedback. It is very helpful to gain perspective from someone who likes playing FIFA themselves. Growing up, I was not very big into video games, but I always felt second-hand enjoyment through my brother when he played. I would love to hear more about how you think EA Sports and online gaming platforms have changed/affected your relationship with sports. I think it is really interesting to see a first-hand perspective of if these platforms really do increase digital fan engagement! Along with this, I also agree that the feature of male and female players in Ultimate team mode really contributes to the inclusivity of the game. Although controversial, I don't think this controversy would make anyone stop playing these games, but rather, I think it will bring a larger audience of young people to try out these games!
DeleteI think that esports have the potential to expand fan bases significantly, allowing sports teams to reach farther into other areas of the globe. I would expect that esport audiences and traditional fan bases merge, because as more teams enter the realm of esports I think that people will begin to engage with both aspects. I also think that esports could help teams foster more enhanced and fan engagement with more immersive experiences. This could help bridge the gap between virtual sports and the real games. Additionally, I think that this could have a huge impact on children as engaging with younger audiences virtually might allow better reach. Overall, I think that as time goes on, esports and traditional sports will merge in some ways, but I think this will be a positive change.
ReplyDeleteHi Molly! Your perspective on the interconnectedness of esports and sports is very insightful! I also think the potential for Esports to expand its consumer and fan base is enormous because it is so accessible to so many people. The different audiences that are targeted can definitively extend fan reach globally.
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ReplyDeleteI do think that esports will become more popular in Europe through the coming years after seeing how the US is handling the increase of viewership for esports. I think that the kids of that generation will grow up watching Esports and playing video games that it will cause for it to become very popular all over the world. I think like every other thing that European organizations branch into esports will be one of them. I think that club owners will want their own team with their own logo bringing in more money. I think in a couple years we will start seeing more professional teams popping up and hosting events in Europe.
Esports is a booming industry and there is no doubt that the football world can capitalize on this boom with more partnerships with companies like EA, or simply with the promotion of video games and esports in general. The fifa game is a masisve industry in its own right so I could see the future collaboration of football clubs with the game, whether it be in investing in VR or in starting club affiliated Esports teams could present a future avenue for growth in a digital area. I’m curious to see what you think about this especially in the way of VR as a potential Avenue for digital growth!
ReplyDeleteGreat article! I think this is a topic that needs to be covered a lot more. Esports is an ever evolving industry, especially in the younger generations of sports fans. Video games like FIFA have lately had an emerging presence in the European sports world. I think that football clubs should start collaborating with esports, so that they can reach the younger generations. It is important that if they want to keep their fame and worldwide recognition, they have to cater towards the younger generations, and that starts with collaborations with esports.
ReplyDeleteHi Casey! Thank you for your comment! This topic should be much more widely covered, especially among younger generations. I think that EA Sports and Esports, in general, have such open opportunity gaps regarding getting more fans involved, especially those in other countries, such as the US, where football is not as popular. I also think these platforms have many opportunities to expand youth academies into Esports and offer fans diverse ways to engage with clubs.
DeleteI see European clubs continuing to invest money in esports because they see the value in it. Esports typically attract a younger audience and teams are going to use this to bring in this demographic. I think there will be more collaborations in the future between clubs and esports events. By continuing to partner, the two will be seen as an interconnected industry.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the partnership between FIFA and EA Sports, now EA Sports FC, shows the power of gaming in connecting fans globally. Esports is an industry that has been continuously getting more popular and draws in so many viewers. Esports presents European clubs with exciting opportunities to engage with diverse audiences and helps grow their fanbase. Overall, the integration of digital platforms into the sports world is greatly helping fan engagement and opening up new opportunities for growth.
ReplyDelete-Kirk Gialleonardo
The dynamic between traditional sports and esports is rapidly shifting in Europe. With the growing popularity of gaming culture, European clubs have a unique chance to leverage esports partnerships and virtual events to enhance fan engagement and diversify revenue streams. There are now live events for these esports for fans to come and watch. By embracing this intersection, clubs can tap into new audiences and strengthen their global presence in the digital landscape.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do not like the rebranded name (FIFA 22, 23, etc. was such an iconic name in video games), and I do not like EA sports as a company (most of the games they make besides the FIFA series are crappy and unfinished because they know people will buy them anyway), I do think that it has really played a huge role in getting people even more interested in football than they already are, especially Americans. For example, I absolutely love playing the FIFA series of games, even though I don't really care to play or watch football on its own. I think that this new feature of having men's and women's teams play each other is very important, because it really does elevate the presence of women's teams in sports media.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for your comment. I appreciate your strong opinion on the switch from FIFA to EA sports name - but I also agree that people will always continue to buy the game. I have a question and would love to hear your opinion. How do you think that FIFA can enhance its role in making football more diverse and engaging to a global audience? Do you think any specific features could deepen the connections between fans and the game?
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