It’s a big day for Xbox Game Pass, as Microsoft and EA have released EA Sports FC 24 into the subscription catalog, and the timing is probably no accident. After all, the biggest event in football right now, Euro 2024, is taking place right now with group stage matches soon to wrap up.
EA Sports FC 24 is the latest entry in the series, having released in September 2023. It’s available through Game Pass Ultimate via EA Play. FC 24 is available via Xbox, PC, and the cloud. GameSpot’s FC 24 review scored the game a 7/10, with reviewer Richard Wakeling writing that it was the “new name, same game.”
FC 24 was the first entry in the series following EA’s decision to split off from FIFA. Despite the name change, EA’s game features many of the same teams, names, stadiums, and other licensed materials due to the publisher having separate licensing agreements beyond FIFA. FC 24 also has the Euro license, so players can simulate the tournament for themselves in their own fantasy setup to win the trophy.
According to a report, FIFA was asking EA to pay $1 billion for every four-year World Cup cycle to retain the FIFA name. EA decided to break things off with FIFA, and now FIFA is branching out and making its own game bearing the FIFA name with a different partner.
FIFA president Gianna Infantino said recently, “When they play (a) football simulation game, they play FIFA, it cannot be named something else.” He added: “We are developing new partners and a new game which, obviously as everything we do, will be the best. So get ready for the new FIFA game.”
A report earlier this year suggested that FIFA might partner with 2K Sports on a new game, though nothing has materialized as of yet.