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Rumors about Take-Two's 2K Sports acquiring the FIFA license have been swirling since EA Sports and FIFA ended their three-decade partnership in late 2022. However, recent comments from a senior Take-Two official suggest that creating a console-quality soccer simulation is far more complicated than simply picking up the FIFA license. The Complexity of Soccer Licensing During Take-Two Interactive's latest earnings call, CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the speculation surrounding 2K's potential entry into the soccer simulation market. He explained that the FIFA license alone does not cover the necessary image rights of players, teams, or non-World Cup competitions. This means that in addition to securing the FIFA license, Take-Two would need to negotiate with a broad range of rights holders to develop a game that offers a competitive level of licensed content. Zelnick emphasized that creating a console soccer simulation is an "incredibly difficult" task that "takes a long time" to execute properly. Despite these challenges, he did not entirely dismiss the idea of Take-Two pursuing an EA Sports FC rival, acknowledging that a well-executed soccer simulation could attract a deeply loyal and engaged audience. Take-Two’s Existing Presence in the Soccer Game Market While Take-Two has yet to confirm any plans to develop a FIFA-branded soccer simulation, Zelnick pointed out that the company is already involved in the soccer gaming market through its ownership of Top Eleven. Developed by Serbian studio Nordeus, which Take-Two acquired in June 2021 for up to $378 million, Top Eleven is regarded as the world's leading mobile soccer management game, boasting over 100 million downloads on Android alone. Zelnick's comments during the earnings call highlighted Take-Two's expanding portfolio of sports franchises, which already includes NBA, NFL, WWE, tennis, and golf. While he did not directly confirm whether 2K is pursuing the FIFA license, Zelnick expressed confidence in Take-Two's continued growth in the sports gaming sector, hinting that more developments could be on the horizon. FIFA’s Future Without EA Even as Take-Two weighs its options, FIFA has made it clear that the organization intends to continue producing soccer video games without EA's involvement. Whether or not Take-Two will eventually step in to fill the gap left by EA Sports remains uncertain, but Zelnick's comments suggest that the company is considering its options carefully. Final Thoughts Take-Two's potential entry into the console soccer simulation market is far from a straightforward endeavor. The company must navigate a complex web of licensing agreements and development challenges to deliver a game that can compete with established titles like EA Sports FC. While the possibility of a 2K FIFA game remains open, it is clear that Take-Two is taking a cautious approach, ensuring that any move into this space is thoroughly planned and executed. Also Read:

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