The FIFAe World Cup: World’s Largest eSports Game

eSports are likely to become a huge part of the sports entertainment industry in the coming years. Already, eSports leagues have surpassed predictions related to popularity and revenue. According to Insider Intelligence, eSports viewership numbers saw an 11.4% jump from 2020 to 2021. 

This year, over 26.6 million Americans will watch eSports. The revenue figures are just as astounding. According to Deloitte, in 2017, eSports saw around $490 million in investment. By the next year, that number had ballooned to $4.5 billion.

Developing the Fan Experience

Thanks to streaming services like Twitch, gaming fans are largely in charge of their own experience—and it’s highly personal. They watch their favorite gamers compete live or stream their practice runs, which is akin to football fans watching Messi live stream one of his workouts. 

Many eSports groups are now shifting to elevate their merchandising, while bookmakers have even started offering lines on eSports tournaments. This is particularly relevant to the US, where more and more states are opting to launch online betting markets. New York is the latest state to legalize online sports betting and, with New York free bets on offer, wagering on live and virtual sports has never been easier.

Meanwhile, other huge industries have shifted to focus on esports. As mentioned, this includes merchandising… but it’s not just about sweats and t-shirts. Recent commercial ventures include a clothing line from Louis Vuitton and League of Legends, as well as Gucci’s partnership with Fnatic to create a watch.

But when it comes to this type of popularity, where does a sports simulation like FIFA 22 fit in? After all, the primary focus of eSports is on first-person shooters (FPS), multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBA), and real-time strategy games (RTS). For perspective, FIFA 22 is considered a real-time tactics game (RTT).

The Largest Online eSports Game

Any hardcore eSports fan might question FIFA’s announcement that the FIFAe World Cup could be the largest online eSports game, but with an accolade from the Guinness World Records, it’s hard to argue. But the title isn’t necessarily indicative of the current state of eSports.

FIFA 22 has become one of the most successful video games ever sold; a nod to the popularity and accessibility of sports simulations. The popularity can be compared to games like Fortnite, which sees huge participation from gamers who never plan to go pro and might not even follow eSports.

Each year, FIFA hosts an online competition for its qualifying matches, which closely follows the format of the real-life FIFA World Cup. Back in 2013, according to Guinness World Records, a whopping 2.5 million gamers logged online to compete.

This marks another difference between the world’s most competitive and popular eSports and FIFA installations; console vs. PC. For the most part, popular leagues are played via PC, while the FIFAe World Cup is hosted via Xbox and PlayStation Networks. Broadly speaking, casual gamers are more likely to use consoles.

Building on Football’s Popularity

There’s another key difference between FIFA 22 and eSports games like League of Legends, DOTA 2, Counter-Strike, and Fortnite: sports. At the heart of FIFA’s partnership with EA Sports is association football, which is the most popular sport in the world (by a landslide). This makes it a popular choice for gamers of all stripes, including those who may just want to feel closer to their favorite football stars.

Additionally, FIFA draws on the international dynamic of its World Cup format. FIFAe World Cup participants play as a club, but the newly launched FIFAe Nations Cup sees players compete under the umbrella of their nationality. In 2019, France won the inaugural tournament. 

Because of EA Sports ties to FIFA, real-world footballers are also involved. For example, the 2015 FIFAe World Cup champion, Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, got to meet Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in real life. It’s a prize on-par with the $250,000 prize money offered to champions (and certainly the $50,000 shelled out to runners-up).

Football’s popularity as a global sport is one of the key factors when it comes to the success of FIFAe as an esport.

Galit Gordon

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I'm a published author and proud US Army veteran who happens to be a gamer, so I decided to combine the two and love every minute of it! Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments and I'll be sure to get back to you.