Electronic Arts developed and published the FIFA video game series before it became EA Sports FC.
The series was created by EA Canada and released through the EA Sports label. Its first game, FIFA International Soccer, arrived in 1993 and helped establish football as a major sports-game category worldwide.
The partnership between Electronic Arts and FIFA continued for decades, covering annual releases, World Cup editions, licensed clubs, players, stadiums, and competitions. In 2022, EA and FIFA announced that their licensing agreement would end after FIFA 23.
A common mix-up is confusing FIFA, the football governing body, with EA Sports, the company that made the game. FIFA licensed its name and branding, while Electronic Arts handled development, publishing, and distribution. The next main entry, EA Sports FC 24, launched without the FIFA name in 2023.