EA’s FIFA Games Might Be Over, but Rematch Could Fill the Gap

In ’93, something pretty wild happened. EA shook hands with FIFA, yeah, that FIFA, to whip up a new soccer game for the Sega Genesis, calling it FIFA International Soccer. I remember the first time I saw it — no clue why it stuck, but it did. The game exploded, selling over 500,000 copies in just four weeks! Not like anyone was surprised, right? I mean, it was the first video game flaunting the big FIFA badge, but even EA was probably doing cartwheels with those numbers.

That little game was just the spark, the beginning of a massive empire now known as the FIFA video game franchise. Seriously though, it kinda crushed all its competitors, taking the crown as EA’s top sports franchise. Can you imagine? Over 325 million copies flying off the shelves by 2021. But then, in 2022, high drama ensued with EA and FIFA breaking up. Yeah, officially over — no more FIFA in EA’s future games. They do have new soccer titles, but without that iconic tag, it feels like the end of an era. Still, the FIFA name isn’t completely toast. There’s always Sloclap’s Rematch lurking around the corner.

Now, Rematch. It’s like the little engine that could in this big, scary, non-EA soccer world. I mean, you don’t see many new soccer games these days, right? Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer, or PES, is still kicking around, with the newest twist being eFootball. Let’s just say people aren’t exactly throwing parades for it. But Rematch? Totally unexpected hit from Sloclap — yeah, those folks who gave us Absolver and Sifu, both having that kung fu movie vibe. Rematch’s got this cartoony, vibrant flair, and it’s a 5v5 bonanza viewed from a third-person. It’s like jumping into a comic book. Wild, but it works. Anyway, this baby’s only been out a few weeks, but already over a million copies sold? Nah, not joking. By June 25, 2025, 3 million players were in on the action.

Oh, quick note: it’s on Xbox Game Pass, so not everyone who’s played actually bought it — just a heads-up there.

Wouldn’t it be wild if Sloclap teamed up with FIFA? Tossing some FIFA-branded gear into Rematch? It’s one of those shower thoughts that sound silly until you realize it’d actually be genius. I mean, they’ve already tossed in stuff like Puma wearables and even a skin of Marc-André ter Stegen, the real-life soccer dude. Would people really pay for gear with a team’s logo, though? Probably more than you’d think. FIFA branding was like EA’s secret sauce — and it’s almost interchangeable with soccer, especially in Europe. Imagine, Rematch cosmetics decked in FIFA branding could give it that extra oomph. No doubt it would turn a few heads. Maybe it won’t be the dawn of a new FIFA game, but a Rematch and FIFA crossover might just be the best alternative right now. Who knows?