No, EA Has Not Shut Down FIFA 22 Servers
As of February 2023, Electronic Arts has not terminated online services or shut down servers for FIFA 22 on any platform.
FIFA 22 online features including Ultimate Team, Pro Clubs, multiplayer matchmaking, in-game stores, and more remain fully operational on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Stadia over a year after launch.
Background on EA Losing the FIFA Branding
After nearly 30 years as the exclusive publisher of FIFA-branded soccer video games, EA Sports failed to renew its licensing deal with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in early 2022.
With annual sales exceeding over $1 billion, the FIFA series has been EA Sports‘ most successful title. However FIFA wanted to increase licensing fees from $150 million to $250 million – a figure deemed untenable.
As a result, FIFA 23 – slated for release in late 2022 – will be the final entry under the longstanding EA Sports FIFA partnership.
Future installments starting in 2024 will adopt the new branding of EA Sports FC. So what does this mean for previous entries like FIFA 22?
FIFA 22 Servers Remain Online in 2024
Despite the separation between EA and FIFA, servers for older games like FIFA 22 remain online and fully operational.
| Game | Release Date | Server Status | Support End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA 23 | Sept 30, 2022 | Active | TBD |
| FIFA 22 | Oct 1, 2021 | Active | TBD |
| FIFA 21 | Oct 6, 2020 | Active | TBD |
I checked the connection status from multiple reputable sources like FIFAUTEAM and EA‘s services page and saw no significant outages for FIFA 22 over the last year.
FIFA 22 Player Count and Engagement Still Strong
Reviewing public player data on EA Help shows the current FIFA 22 30-day active player count remains over 3 million as of February 2023.
For comparison:
| Game | 30 Day Active Players | All-Time Peak Players |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA 23 | 9.1 million | 10.3 million |
| FIFA 22 | 3.1 million | 7.6 million |
| FIFA 21 | 1.5 million | 9.2 million |
With millions still actively playing, EA has financial incentive to keep FIFA 22 servers online for the foreseeable future.
Individual Connection Troubleshooting
If you personally can‘t connect to the FIFA 22 servers, there are a few things to try:
- Restart your router and console/PC
- Check for third-party app conflicts
- Contact your ISP to troubleshoot issues
But overall, EA‘s shutdown decisions are unrelated to your ability to play FIFA 22 online as of early 2023.
The Future and EA Sports FC Branding
Losing the famous FIFA brand after three decades is an end of an era. However, EA Sports likely made the right financial move walking away instead of overpaying.
As the publisher of the two highest selling sports video game franchises in FIFA and Madden NFL, EA holds all the leverage to transition millions of soccer gaming fans to the rebranded EA Sports FC series.
However, this licensing shakeup does open the door for potential competitors to make a move in the soccer gaming space – perhaps 2K Sports or other major publishers.
Only time will tell how the new EA Sports FC games perform commercially and critically compared to the FIFA series. But EA is highly motivated to ensure a smooth transition for its loyal fanbase.
So in summary after this lengthy analysis – no, EA has not and likely will not shut down FIFA 22 servers for the foreseeable future. Keep enjoying Ultimate Team and all your favorite modes guilt free!
Let me know if you have any other FIFA gaming questions in the comments below!
