EA has confirmed that Russian clubs and the Russian national team won’t be included in FIFA 23.
In a statement handed to Eurogamer, the publisher said the decision was made to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine after the country was invaded by Russia with assistance from Belarus earlier this year.
“EA Sports stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and like so many voices across the world of football, calls for peace and an end to the invasion of Ukraine,” reads the statement.
“In line with our partners at FIFA and UEFA, EA Sports will not include the Russian national team or Russian clubs in FIFA 23.”
EA’s stance mirrors its decision to remove Russia’s national and club teams from FIFA 22, FIFA Mobile, and FIFA Online back in March. At the same time, the company also halted the sale of Russian items in FIFA Ultimate Team, purging Russian clubs, kit items, stadia and stadium items, and Manager League consumable items from the popular game mode.
FIFA 23 will be the final game in the long-running franchise, with EA and licensing partner FIFA calling time on their licensing deal earlier this year.
As a result of the split, EA intends to relaunch and rebrand the soccer simulator as EA Sports FC. FIFA has also pledged to create new football video games with the help of third-party studios and publishers, including one project the non-profit organization has described as a “major new simulation football title.”
“For the first time, FIFA will launch new football video games developed with third-party studios and publishers, providing more choice for football and gaming fans in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023,” said FIFA in May.
“A number of new non-simulation games are already under production and will launch during the third quarter of this year. The first is a tailored gaming experience featuring the biggest event on earth, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which will bring new, interactive experiences to fans across the globe.”