FIFA 2K game would be challenging, but Take-Two doesn't deny rumors.

Is EA Sports FC too formidable to compete against? There have been rumors circulating about a potential partnership between 2K Sports and FIFA, but Take-Two Interactive has cast doubt on whether it will actually come to fruition. Despite losing the official branding, EA has managed to thrive in the football game market with their EA Sports FC 24 game still dominating in sales. However, the possibility of a collaboration with FIFA seems to have hit a roadblock due to the hefty amount of money the football association is asking for to use their license. In response, the association has expressed interest in teaming up with other studios to create an official FIFA football simulation game.

One of the studios that has been rumored to potentially partner with FIFA is Take-Two Interactive, known for their sports games such as NBA 2K. While this may seem like a natural fit, Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick has acknowledged the challenges of competing with EA in the console football space. During the company's earnings call for the first quarter of the 2024/25 fiscal year, Zelnick addressed the rumors of Take-Two acquiring the FIFA license, stating, "We're in the soccer business. We have the number one mobile soccer manager title in Top Eleven and we're really happy that we do." He went on to mention the difficulty in creating a high-quality simulation game for consoles, and the level of loyalty and attachment that users have to such games.

When it comes to the FIFA license specifically, Zelnick clarified that it does not come with the rights to use players, teams, or leagues. This means that negotiating with FIFA is not as simple as with other major sports leagues, as they also have to negotiate with individual players and their associations. This adds an additional layer of complexity for anyone looking to enter the simulation game market for football. However, Zelnick did not completely rule out the possibility of working with FIFA and mentioned that they will make more announcements in the future.

While it may seem like a collaboration with FIFA is on the horizon, Zelnick's comments suggest that it may be further away than anticipated. The company's latest financial report also revealed that Civilisation 7 is scheduled to release in the fourth quarter of the 2025 fiscal year. This means it could potentially be released between January and March of next year, barring any delays. More information on the game is expected to be revealed at Gamescom's Future Games Show on August 21.

In terms of financial performance, Take-Two reported $1.22 billion in net bookings for the first quarter of the fiscal year, which is in line with expectations. Net revenue also saw a 4% increase from the previous year, reaching $1.34 billion. While there was an increase in net losses, mainly due to products related to Take-Two's acquisition of Zynga, the company has raised its bookings guidance for the fiscal year from $5.55 to $5.65 billion. They are also anticipating growth in the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years, with plans to release 24 games during that period.

This optimistic outlook is largely due to the highly anticipated release of GTA 6, which is expected to launch in autumn 2025. However, the impact of Take-Two's recent acquisition of Gearbox Software is not reflected in these quarterly results, as the deal closed in June. Only time will tell if this acquisition will have a positive impact on the company's financials.

While Take-Two expects the Gearbox acquisition to be a lucrative deal in the long run, there are some short-term challenges. The upcoming Borderlands movie is expected to be a box office flop, with a projected first weekend earnings of only $12 to $16 million compared to its production budget of $115 million. However, the deal may prove to be more profitable when the next Borderlands game is released, which could be soon according to recent comments from Gearbox Software co-founder Randy Pitchford.

Overall, Take-Two's potential partnership with FIFA and their acquisition of Gearbox Software are just a few of the many developments to look out for in the gaming industry. As always, stay tuned for more updates and news on the latest releases. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media for exclusive gaming content. And for an easier way to submit your own letters and features, check out our Submit Stuff page.

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