Beyond EA Sports FC: New Football Video Games Challenge the Market

As the 2026/2027 European football season kicks off, the video game market for football simulations is seeing new contenders after years of near-monopoly by Electronic Arts' EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA). EA Sports FC 27 is slated for release at the end of September, with updates to player rosters. Meanwhile, several alternatives have emerged with different models. Konami's eFootball, free-to-play since 2021, has improved significantly and offers a different experience focused on online play and microtransactions. UFL, developed by Cypriot studio Strikerz, launched in 2024 with backing from Cristiano Ronaldo, also free-to-play. Goals, a Swedish studio's game released during the men's World Cup, ignores licenses and uses fictional players. FIFA World Cup Launch Edition, available via Netflix, has been critically panned, and its developer Refactor Games laid off 85% of staff. The FIFA federation aims to expand its digital football strategy, potentially partnering with Take-Two Interactive, which has opened a new studio in Canada with former EA Sports FC developers. The market is shifting from annual full-price releases to free-to-play models with ongoing updates.