EA has seemingly removed every single FIFA game from digital storefronts just a couple of days ahead of the upcoming release of EA Sports 24.
As spotted by ResetEra user nolifebr, every FIFA game prior to EA Sports 24, including last year's FIFA 23, is no longer available via storefronts like the PlayStation Store, Steam, and the Nintendo eShop.
However, nolifebr does point out that FIFA 23 is still technically accessible via EA Play, which means that if you're a subscriber to either that service or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (which also includes EA Play), then you can still play last year's installment.
EA hasn't made any kind of official announcement regarding the delisting of the FIFA series from storefronts, but the company's reason for doing so is likely tied to the same licensing issues that led to the series' name change.
In May last year, it was announced that the FIFA series would change its name to EA Sports FC, starting with the 2023 installment of the long-running soccer series.
Neither EA nor FIFA technically announced the reason for this change, but it was reported at the time that FIFA was demanding exorbitant licensing fees from EA, and the studio (quite reasonably) refused to play ball, so to speak.
As such, this year's installment, which lands on Friday, is called EA Sports FC 24 rather than FIFA 24. In most other respects, though, it's the same series, with similar gameplay and aesthetics.
Many FIFA players will likely move straight onto EA Sports FC 24 as soon as it's released anyway, but the removal of all prior FIFA games from digital storefronts is a blow for preservation nevertheless.
We've reached out to EA for comment on this story and will let you know as soon as we hear anything. For now, though, EA Sports FC 24 is due to land on September 29th.
