FIFA 21 may have already come out for current-gen platforms, but players' and EA's attention is most likely squarely on the upcoming PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions, which will boast a number of additional features that aim to make the game more realistic in terms of gameplay and visuals.
However, earlier this week, FIFA 21 and EA Sports (the division of EA that develops and publishes the company's sports titles) came under fire from actual footballer and AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, who said that the game is using his name and face without his permission.
Today, EA decided to address the complaints and has effectively stated that Ibrahimović's issue has nothing to do with the game or EA Sports. In a statement issued to PushSquare, it claims that the situation is simply trying to drag FIFA 21 into a dispute between separate third parties.
In addition, it says it has the contractual rights to use the likenesses of all the players currently in the game, which includes Ibrahimović, as it has acquired licenses directly from leagues, teams, and players. It even explicitly mentions gaining the rights to player likenesses through a club agreement with AC Milan and its partnership with the Premier League.
The full statement can be read below:
We are aware of discussions around licensing of players in EA Sports FIFA. The current situation being played out on social media is an attempt to draw FIFA 21 into a dispute between a number of 3rd parties and has little to do with EA Sports.
To be very clear, we have contractual rights to include the likeness of all players currently in our game. As already stated, we acquire these licenses directly from leagues, teams, and individual players. In addition, we work with FIFPro to ensure we can include as many players as we can to create the most authentic game. In these instances, our rights to player likenesses are granted through our club agreement with AC Milan and our long-standing exclusive partnership with the Premier League, which includes all players for Tottenham Hotspur.
This essentially means that EA's use of Ibrahimović's likeness is well within its rights and the player needs to discuss the issue with whoever gave EA the rights to use his face and name in the first place. It's not clear if the issue will continue but, at the very least, it sounds as if the player's inclusion is perfectly legal and above board.
EA probably doesn't want to get into another lawsuit at the moment, as the game's loot boxes have caused a stir in the Netherlands, which enforced stricter laws on them due to considering them a form of gambling. The Dutch government has ruled that EA must either remove the loot boxes or face a fine, a fine which EA has chosen to appeal against.
FIFA 21 has also received heavy criticisms from its own player base for a number of reasons. Aside from complaints regarding the aforementioned loot boxes and microtransactions, the Nintendo Switch version in particular has come under fire for being an inferior product, due to it lacking key features in the other versions. It won't even be receiving the free David Beckham addition.
In terms of critical reception, the game has fared much better, receiving overall solid reviews, though critics weren't without complaints, such as a lack of any big features and feeling far too similar to its predecessors.
FIFA 21 is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It will release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on December 4th.
Source: PushSquare