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EA and FIFA are breaking up, the now-former couple said on Tuesday, ending a more than two-decade partnership that produced one of the most lucrative video games of all time.

🤝👀 A look at the negotiating table…

• FIFA wanted: Double its licensing fee from the previous agreement ($75 million → $150 million) and the ability to attach its name to other video games, since exclusivity would limit its options in the digital world.
• To that EA said: No thanks, we think we can stand on our own – plus, we don’t need your reputational baggage (FIFA underwent a major scandal in 2015). The video game maker has negotiated nearly 300 separate licensing agreements with leagues and international tournaments, all of which will still be active in the new game (and some of which are exclusive to EA).

🎮⚽️ So, what’s next?... This year's game will be named FIFA 23, but the ones after that will be known as EA Sports FC. It’ll no longer feature any FIFA-run events like the World Cup.

• As for FIFA: It’s already inked a number of contracts with other developers for soccer-themed games, some of which will debut later this year. It’ll also launch its own game in 2024.

😕 Zoom out: The FIFA era wasn’t the only era that ended yesterday. Apple officially discontinued the iPod, marking the close of a more than two-decade run that kicked off in 2001.