EA Sports FC sells fewer copies than FIFA 23, but there’s a catch!

EA Sports FC sells less than its immediate predecessor, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a bad thing: its sales are still fantastic

EA has severed ties with FIFA, which has had its consequences. Firstly, they had to change the name of their most iconic and best-selling game. This made many people think that their sales would be significantly affected since their audience is considered more casual, and many people might be unaware of this change and not buy the game this year. Something that many people will likely confirm when looking at the sales data in the UK.

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According to data from Chris Ding of Games Industry, EA Sports FC had initial sales 30% lower in physical copies compared to FIFA 23. These numbers might seem concerning when viewed in isolation. However, there’s a catch. EA Sports FC is also the second biggest launch of 2023 in terms of physical copies sold in the UK, only behind The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, surpassing the highly successful Hogwarts Legacy.

This paints a very positive picture of EA Sports FC’s performance. While it might seem like what happens in the UK doesn’t necessarily reflect the rest of the world, the reality is that it serves as a good predictor for commercial trends across Europe. Historically, the UK market has been a good representation of what happens in the rest of the continent.

Furthermore, this isn’t even something new. Physical sales of FIFA have been declining for several years in favor of digital sales, in a consistent and gradual trend that is increasing over time. Moreover, EA was already expecting a decline in sales during the initial years, which ultimately probably falls within their expectations. Because if being the second biggest launch of the year isn’t enough for a game to succeed, even if it’s the game formerly known as FIFA, not having the license from the professional football governing body will be the least of their worries.

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We already have a date for Dune: Spice Wars, the most anticipated game after the delay of the movie

The second part of the Dune movie may not be hitting theaters soon, but we will be able to enjoy Dune: Spice Wars much sooner than expected.

The writers’ strike is having many consequences, including the delay of many important films, such as the sequel to the new Dune movie. This is inevitable and right; writers have the right to fair compensation for their work. But that doesn’t take away our itch for more Dune. Fortunately, the video game industry has us covered on that front.

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Funcom has announced the release date for Dune: Spice Wars. Created by Shiro Games, this is a 4X strategy game that draws from Frank Herbert’s novels to create its own version of the universe, faithful but flexible enough to craft its own version of events. The game was released in early access in April 2022 and will be officially released on September 14th, 2023, on PC.

For those who may not know, a 4X strategy game is an empire-building strategy game in the style of Civilization or Hearts of Iron. The abbreviation 4X stands for explore, expand, exploit, exterminate; these games involve turn-based, board game-like gameplay where you carefully manage resources and terrain to expand your influence across space and time, ultimately dominating the entire scenario.

These are demanding but very rewarding games that will delight fans of board games, especially those who enjoy games with greater complexity in their rules.

Dune: Spice Wars has received significant updates since its early access release, growing exponentially since then. With six playable factions, spectacular aesthetics, and our tips on everything you need to know about Dune: Spice Wars, you have little excuse when it comes out on September 14th, both on PC and Game Pass.

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One of the major horror releases for October decides to postpone itself: it doesn’t want competition

Alone in the Dark announced its delay until next year, arguing the need to polish aspects of the game… and move away from big releases.

If there’s one year that hasn’t seen a break in terms of video game releases, it’s 2023. With games constantly piling up, many have to either delay or advance their releases to avoid clashing with similar games or much higher-profile releases in order to secure a spot where they can gain visibility. Something that is already challenging under normal circumstances becomes even more so in a year where numerous high-quality games are being released. That’s why it’s not surprising that some have chosen to simply move to another year to avoid competing in this hectic race.

That has been the case with the remake of Alone in the Dark. Initially announced to be released on October 25, it has been delayed until January 16, 2024. This is mainly due to the fact that Alan Wake II pushed back its release by two weeks, now set for October 27, to avoid competing on October 20 with two heavyweights: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

In fact, at THQ Nordic, they haven’t denied that this is why they are postponing their release. While they have stated that they want to use the extra time to polish the game, they haven’t hidden the fact that not competing against other high-profile games and a similar game like Alan Wake II will benefit them in terms of their release.

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No wonder, October is poised to be remembered as one of the most jam-packed months in the history of video games. Just looking at the highest-profile games, that month will feature Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Sonic Superstars, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Cities: Skylines 2, Ghostrunner 2, Alan Wake II, and Total War: Pharaoh. Not to mention many other lower-profile games and no shortage of indies, some of which still lack release dates.

The remake of Alone in the Dark is being developed by Pieces Interactive for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. And while we won’t see it until 2024 at least, they won’t have to contend with the wild flood of games awaiting us.

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