Since FIFA 23, the world soccer association has not been involved in any games for the virtual pitch – but that is about to change. FIFA Rivals is in the starting blocks and is promoting itself with the Club World Cup.
In May 2022, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the return of his world governing body to the gaming market – with big words, of course. After parting ways with EA SPORTS, they wanted to offer “the best game available for players and football fans.” Now, at least, a title bearing the FIFA name is set to be released again.
FIFA Rivals was announced last November as a mobile game with a crypto twist. It won’t be a soccer simulation; the trailers so far look very much like an arcade game. Of course, with the big world governing body in the background, that doesn’t mean that bridges won’t be built to the physical sport.
First season of the Club World Cup
The FIFA Rivals X account recently announced that there will be a connection between the game and the upcoming Club World Cup. For example, a season in the mobile title will coincide with the soccer tournament. This in turn suggests that FIFA Rivals is likely to be released next month at the latest – after all, the Club World Cup only runs until July 13.
Weeks earlier, isolated posts mentioning “FIFA Summer” had already made it clear that the new game would indeed be released in the summer. However, neither the world governing body nor developer Mythical Games have announced an exact release date yet.
eSports-ready and with crypto components
It was recently announced that FIFA Rivals will be released in six different languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, and German. In addition, the mobile title is said to be suitable for eSports, which would fit in with the resurrection of the FIFAe World Cups in Rocket League and Football Manager.
In terms of gameplay, FIFA Rivals will likely be based on the company’s own NFL Rivals: Similar to Football Ultimate Team (FUT), players will be able to build a dream team from various player cards. This team will then compete against other players or AI for rewards. The game will also feature crypto components and digital ownership.