FIFA announced plans to launch the “FIFA Blockchain,” an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible blockchain to host its NFT platform, FIFA Collect. The migration from the Algorand blockchain, where FIFA Collect was initially launched in 2022, is set to begin no earlier than May 20, 2025. The new blockchain aims to offer improved performance, scalability, and support for future features, aligning with broader Web3 trends for enhanced interoperability and developer adoption.
FIFA Rivals is an officially licensed, free-to-play mobile football game developed by Mythical Games in collaboration with FIFA and Bacon Games, set for a global launch in June 2025 on iOS and Android, with a pre-release in May 2025 coinciding with the FIFA Club World Cup. The game integrates blockchain technology via the Mythos blockchain, powered by Polkadot, to offer a unique arcade-style football experience with player-owned digital assets.
Unlike traditional FIFA simulation games, FIFA Rivals emphasizes fast-paced, arcade-style football with real-time player-versus-player (PvP) matches. Players can engage in head-to-head competitions, focusing on accessibility with a “shallow learning curve” for casual players and advanced features for dedicated gamers. The game moves away from hyper-realistic aesthetics (like EA Sports FC) to a style described as a blend of “simulation and fantasy,” offering a distinct, engaging experience.
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Players can create, manage, and build their own football clubs, assembling lineups with officially licensed football stars, both past and present. This includes buying, selling, and trading players to enhance squads. The game allows players to level up their teams, strategize, and compete globally, aiming to “dominate the competition and create your legacy.”
Blockchain Integration and NFTs
FIFA Rivals uses the Mythos blockchain to enable ownership of in-game assets, such as NFT player cards, which players can collect, trade, or sell via in-game and web-based marketplaces. These NFTs represent professional football stars, adding a layer of digital ownership and monetization through a play-to-earn economy.
Blockchain ensures secure, transparent transactions, reducing fraud and enhancing trust by immutably recording asset ownership. Players can earn cryptocurrencies or NFTs based on in-game achievements, similar to Mythical’s NFL Rivals. NFTs are optional, addressing concerns about accessibility and controversies surrounding blockchain in gaming, such as environmental impact or speculative markets.
The game introduces tokenized rewards, where players can earn in-game assets with real-world value, tradeable outside the game. This mirrors successful blockchain games like Splinterlands, which use similar mechanics to boost engagement. The integration of $MYTH tokens (used in Mythical’s ecosystem) may allow players to participate in the game’s economy, though specifics on token mechanics are not fully detailed.
Esports and Community Engagement
FIFA Rivals is designed to integrate with FIFA’s esports platform, offering competitive opportunities for players worldwide to participate or spectate. This aligns with FIFA’s goal to expand its gaming and esports portfolio. A leading Web3 gaming studio with experience in blockchain titles like NFL Rivals (over 6 million downloads) and Blankos Block Party (3 million monthly transactions). Mythical’s expertise in blockchain and major franchises (e.g., Call of Duty, World of Warcraft) positions it to deliver a robust gaming experience.
Bacon Games: A Colombian studio collaborating on FIFA Rivals, bringing creative input to craft a fresh football experience that blends arcade gameplay with blockchain innovation. This is FIFA’s second major Web3 venture after its FIFA Collect NFT platform (launched on Algorand in 2022, now transitioning to an EVM blockchain). Previous NFT projects included collectibles tied to the 2022 Qatar World Cup and 2026 World Cup ticket opportunities. FIFA Rivals marks FIFA’s first blockchain-integrated interactive game, reflecting a broader trend of sports organizations embracing digital engagement.
Mythos Blockchain: Built with Polkadot technology, the Mythos chain is optimized for gaming, offering cross-chain infrastructure and support for NFT economies. It ensures scalability, security, and interoperability, critical for handling millions of transactions. The game is free-to-play, lowering barriers to entry, and supports both iOS and Android, targeting a global audience. The mobile-first approach leverages the massive reach of mobile gaming, especially given the 5 billion viewers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
As with other Mythical Games titles (e.g., Nitro Nation), FIFA Rivals may require significant storage (potentially over 1GB), which could necessitate device space management. FIFA Rivals aims to attract football fans, blockchain enthusiasts, and casual gamers. Mythical Games’ CEO, John Linden, projects over 100 million players, citing NFL Rivals’ success and football’s global popularity.
The game enters a competitive space dominated by EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA) and its mobile counterpart, EA Sports FC Mobile. Unlike EA’s lootbox-based model, FIFA Rivals uses blockchain for asset ownership, potentially appealing to a niche of crypto-savvy players but facing challenges in toppling EA’s dominance. The partnership reflects a growing trend of sports organizations collaborating with blockchain studios (e.g., NFL with Mythical, Ubisoft with Oasys). This convergence of traditional sports, mobile gaming, and Web3 could set new benchmarks for fan engagement.
FIFA Rivals could redefine sports gaming by mainstreaming blockchain integration, offering true digital ownership and innovative rewards. Its success may influence other sports organizations to adopt Web3 strategies. The game’s tie-in with the FIFA Club World Cup and esports platform could boost visibility and engagement, especially among younger, tech-savvy audiences. By educating players about blockchain through gameplay, it may bridge traditional gaming and Web3 communities.
Blockchain and NFTs in gaming remain divisive due to environmental concerns and speculative markets. Making NFTs optional may mitigate backlash but could limit adoption among traditional gamers. EA Sports FC’s established player base and licensing deals (17,000+ pro players) pose a significant hurdle. FIFA Rivals will need compelling gameplay and unique features to compete.
Blockchain integration requires players to use crypto wallets (e.g., for trading NFTs), which may deter non-crypto users. The shift from Algorand to EVM wallets in FIFA’s ecosystem suggests similar requirements here. The mobile gaming market is crowded, and FIFA Rivals must stand out amidst numerous football titles and blockchain games.
While FIFA Rivals aligns with FIFA’s push to innovate post its 2022 split with EA Sports, the reliance on blockchain raises questions about accessibility and long-term viability. The game’s arcade focus and free-to-play model are smart moves to attract a broad audience, but the NFT component may alienate players wary of crypto’s volatility or environmental impact. FIFA’s claim of delivering “the best” gaming experience (per President Gianni Infantino) is ambitious, given EA’s dominance and FIFA Rivals’ niche Web3 focus. The collaboration with Mythical and Bacon Games is promising, but success hinges on balancing blockchain novelty with intuitive, engaging gameplay. Without robust marketing and a seamless user experience, it risks being a niche product for crypto enthusiasts rather than a mainstream hit.
FIFA Rivals is a bold step for FIFA into blockchain gaming, combining arcade-style football with NFT-based ownership and esports potential. Set for a pre-release in May 2025 and a full launch in June, it targets a global audience with its free-to-play model and mobile accessibility. While its Mythos blockchain integration offers innovative rewards and security, it faces challenges in competing with EA Sports FC and overcoming NFT skepticism. For football fans and crypto enthusiasts, it promises a fresh, interactive experience, but its success will depend on delivering on gameplay, accessibility, and FIFA’s esports ambitions.
The transition will involve moving FIFA’s NFT collections, which have minted over 1.5 million digital collectibles, to the new network. Users will need EVM-compatible wallets like MetaMask, as Algorand-based wallets (e.g., Pera, Defly) will no longer be supported post-migration. No immediate action is required from users, and FIFA has promised clear instructions closer to the migration date.
Collectibles exported from the platform must be re-imported before May 20 to be included in the migration, with a verification process for those missing the deadline. The move is part of FIFA’s broader Web3 strategy, including projects like the blockchain-based mobile game FIFA Rivals, set for a pre-release in May 2025.