Revealed – Why Inter Milan & AC Milan Were Left Out Of EA FC 25 | OneFootball

The highly-anticipated release of EA FC 25 has been making waves among fans with excitement and speculation.

However, of all the bombshell revelations to come out, probably the most shocking one would have to be the omission of two of the most iconic football clubs in Italy: AC Milan and Inter Milan.

That move has brought much debate and curiosity among football lovers and gamers. This paper goes on to investigate what has caused them to take such an unprecedented step and what effect it might have on the gaming and football community.

The Absence Of Milan & Inter

Historical Significance

AC Milan and Inter Milan are two football clubs from Milan and are jointly referred to as the Milan clubs.

They both have a long history in Italian and international football, as well as a long history of success, with several domestic and international trophies. Their rivalry, known as the Derby della Madonnina, is one of the most famous and hotly contested derbies in world football.

Their absence in EA FC 25 is, therefore, not just an omission but a massive break in tradition. This would amount to withdrawing the most popular games from a casino, leaving players in a dilemma, wondering where else to play.

Licensing Issues

One of the major reasons Milan and Inter are absent from EA FC 25, according to reports, is licensing trouble.

Football video game licensing has become very complicated in recent years. Game developers are gaining exclusive rights to many leagues, teams, and players.

This essentially means if a club signs an exclusivity deal with one developer—for example—they will no longer be able to feature in their rivals’ games.

The Role Of Konami’s eFootball Series

Exclusive Partnerships

Konami’s eFootball series, formerly known as Pro Evolution Soccer (PES), has been involved in the business of acquiring exclusive partnerships with the greatest football clubs and leagues.

Recently, both AC Milan and Inter Milan have signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Konami. Such deals prevent them from featuring in EA football games, which include the recent one, EA FC 25.

Impact On Fans & Gamers

This exclusivity deal significantly affects the fans and players alike. Most football videogame fans prefer EA in terms of gameplay and features but now have to choose Konami’s eFootball series just to be able to play their favourite Milanese teams. The division is then creating a fragmented experience for gamers who have, over the years, enjoyed a more comprehensive choice of clubs in a single game.

Financial & Strategic Considerations

Revenue Streams

Video game licensing is now viewed as one fertile area for revenue generation by football clubs. With exclusive deals, teams can charge higher licensing fees to game developers seeking to use their brand; hence, Milan and Inter likely found these deals with Konami very lucrative and probably more so than EA was willing or able to match.

Strategic Branding

Apart from the financial reasons, there are strategic branding reasons behind some of the clubs’ decisions. A club such as AC Milan or Inter Milan will benefit from having only one game franchise to partner with for continuous branding and representation.

This can be further enhanced by cooperative marketing campaigns and in-game events which can be utilized to further raise the visibility of the club to its fans.

Broader Implications For The Gaming Industry

Competition & Innovation

The rivalry between EA and Konami has brought about innovations in gameplay, graphics, and features that simply benefit gamers in general.

On the other hand, fragmentation due to exclusive licensing deals may also narrow the options available to players because they cannot have all their favourite teams in one game. There you have the classic scenario of a market struggle between these two gaming giants.

Reactions Of The Community

Gamers have also had mixed reactions to Milan and Inter’s exclusion. Some fans understand the business perspective while others felt frustrated by the limitations they experience during gameplay.

When the word “casino” crops up in the context of a discussion on video games, it explains the whole tussle in licensing deals—it is a very intense gamble by both parties to secure lucrative partnerships to attract players.

To sum up, the exclusion of AC Milan and Inter Milan in EA FC 25 will go down in history as a defining moment in football video gaming.

It is an event underlining the change in sports video gaming because of licensing agreements, financial incentives, and strategic branding.

The revelation disappoints some fans while also showing the competitive dynamics that drive innovation and change within the industry.

This shift in balance signals further changes and surprises yet to come, as EA and Konami continue in this competitive game.