EA’s FIFA 18 will release sometime this fall for PS3/4, Xbox 360/One, and PC. The Nintendo Switch will reportedly get the same game but under a different name: EA Sports FIFA.
Mystery has surrounded the Switch version of FIFA 18 since its announcement. Will we finally get a full-fledged FIFA game on a Nintendo console, or will it be more of the same watered down ports or lazily recycled sequels? We still don’t know the answer to that question, but a recent report from Eurogamer has us leaning towards the latter.
EA recently dropped a games list for their E3 2017 lineup, which includes both “FIFA 18” and “EA Sports FIFA on the Nintendo Switch.”
We can’t help but fear the worst for the Switch version due to Nintendo’s history with third-party sports titles. Just one example of this history is FIFA 12 being recycled as FIFA 13 on the Wii then again as FIFA 14 Legacy Edition for the 3DS. Both so-called sequels featured nothing more than roster updates and new packaging, so you can understand why we’re worried about “EA Sports FIFA on the Nintendo Switch.”
Back in January, EA’s Patrick Soderlund hinted at this special version by saying, “EA Sports’ FIFA on Nintendo Switch will be the most immersive, social, and authentic sports game ever created for Nintendo players. It will deliver the FIFA experience custom-built for Nintendo Switch, so you can play anywhere, play with anyone, and play how you want to play.”
Then in February EA’s Peter Moore assured players that “it will be FIFA 18” on the Switch, so no one has known what to believe.
Since EA Sports FIFA is on the EA docket for E3 this year, we’ll likely have some more information to report on this come mid-June.
Do you think EA is going to short Nintendo players again with a lazy port or actually do it right this time? Let us know in the comments!
