Is Roma in FIFA 23?
Yes, Roma does appear in FIFA 23 – but not with full licensing. They are present under the club name "Roma FC" and use generic assets rather than their authentic badge, kits and stadium. This is due to an exclusive licensing deal between Roma and Konami.
As a life-long football gamer and Serie A fanatic, this is an issue close to my heart. In this article, join me in exploring Roma‘s history with FIFA licensing, the impact in FIFA 23, and what the future could hold for the club in virtual football.
A Short History of Roma in FIFA
Let‘s kick-off with some background for those less familiar with the Giallorossi in FIFA. Prior to 2018, Roma licensing had been included fully intact in every FIFA release for over a decade.
Generations of players came to know the club‘s iconic crimson kit and wolf-capped badge from their virtual Serie A sides. The passionate Stadio Olimpico crowd was brought to life whenever Roma hosted a big European night.
This remained the case until FIFA 19 in 2018. In March 2017, Roma signed an exclusive partnership with Konami – publishers of the Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series, now rebranded eFootball. Under the agreement Roma‘s branding assets would only feature in Konami‘s series for the extent of the deal.
When PES 2019 and FIFA 19 released in 2019, Roma were suddenly rebranded in FIFA as the generic "Roma FC". Their badge, kits and stadium renamed under licensing restrictions – despite the squad and player names remaining accurate.
| Year | Game | Badge/Kits/Stadium | Squad/Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | FIFA 18 | Authentic | Authentic |
| 2018 | FIFA 19 | Generic | Authentic |
| 2019 | FIFA 20 | Generic | Authentic |
| 2020 | FIFA 21 | Generic | Authentic |
| 2021 | FIFA 22 | Generic | Authentic |
| 2022 | FIFA 23 | Generic | Authentic |
This transformation of Roma into "Roma FC" has now spanned 5 consecutive FIFA titles since PES secured exclusive rights. Many fans hoped the deal would expire restoring full licensing to FIFA 24 – but there remains uncertainty if this will happen.
The Roma Licensing Situation in FIFA 23
With the latest release of FIFA 23 in late 2022, Roma are once again present as "Roma FC" with no authentic assets. As an avid Serie A gamer across 20 years of FIFA titles, I decided to break down exactly what this means:
- Club Name: Changed to the generic "Roma FC"
- Badge: A plain circular badge with ‘RFC‘ monogram
- Kits: Generic templates with no Nike logos or iconic design details
- Stadium: Stadio Olimpico rebranded plain "Stadion Olympik"
However the following aspects remain fully accurate and unaffected:
- Squad List: All real-world Roma players included
- Player Names: Fully licensed and correct
- Player Faces: Likenesses present as normal
- Attributes: Unchanged and responsive to real-world performance
- Play Style and Tactics: Unique Roma identity intact
So in summary – it is purely the club assets and presentation took the hit rather than the squad authenticity. The only gameplay difference is a lack of atmosphere within the empty Stadion Olympik.
As a lifetime fan of Italian football both on and virtual pitch, this pains me. But thankfully the Serie A is well represented elsewhere with 19 of 20 clubs fully licensed. Solely Roma, Lazio, Atalanta and Napoli share this placeholder fate.
What‘s Behind Roma‘s Licensing Issues?
The core of the problem lies in Roma‘s 5 year exclusive partnership with Konami, signed in 2017. This deal grants Konami sole rights to leverage Roma‘s branding in video games for its duration in exchange for financial compensation.
FIFA developers EA Sports are therefore legally prohibited including Roma‘s authentic assets during this period. Konami leverage the prestigious club to enhance their own PES/eFootball series in direct competition with EA‘s FIFA juggernaut.
In Konami‘s eyes, capturing one of Serie A‘s biggest clubs is a major coup over their bitter publishing rivals. For FIFA, Roma‘s absence deal damages their claim of being the foremost authentic football experience.
EA representatives told Italian paper Il Romanista that negotiations are ongoing regarding Roma‘s return to future FIFA instalments once their Konami deal concludes. However for FIFA 23 players, Roma cannot be restored in timely fashion.
What Does The Future Hold for Roma in FIFA?
Looking ahead, uncertainty surrounds Roma‘s future FIFA status. Their 5 year Konami partnership is due to expire in 2024. If renewed, their lack of licensing could persist long-term.
However if Roma opt out, FIFA 24 could mark the club‘s eagerly awaited return to full authenticity after 4 years absent. As a lifelong virtual manager of Roma across decades of early FIFA editions, this would be a personal dream come true!
Speaking optimistically, various indications suggest Roma are open to rebuilding bridges with EA. Commenting to Italian paper Il Tempo last year, AS Roma CEO Pietro Berardi expressed a desire to be present in as many games possible moving forward.
Meanwhile, EA representatives remarked they are "waiting with open arms" for Roma‘s license to eventually return to FIFA. Willingness for reconciliation exists both sides – the ball lies in Roma‘s court regarding their gaming allegiances after 2023.
Wider Context: Italian Clubs & FIFA Licensing
Looking wider, Roma‘s situation echoes a network of broad licensing issues for Italian clubs between FIFA and PES/eFootball in recent years:
- Juventus were absent pre-FIFA 23 after signing an exclusive Konami deal of their own
- Lazio, Napoli, and Atalanta remained rebranded this FIFA instalment too
- Only Serie B teams are fully exclusive to FIFA rather than shared
However Konami lost important exclusive rights this year including Juventus, allowing EA to restore them as an authentic club in FIFA 23 specifically. This asks questions whether Roma could follow suit for FIFA 24 – or also remain accessible only under their current unlicensed guise.
The underlying factor is money. Italian clubs can generate substantially larger licensing fees by playing EA and Konami against each other rather than committing exclusively to one franchise. Shared access satisfies both publishers too as they can lean on exclusive international clubs like Real Madrid or Liverpool respectively to carry brand weight.
Ultimately it leads to disjointed authenticity issues in representing Serie A which undermine the end experience for gamers. But with finances key, it is an unfortunate inevitability. My insight as a seasoned esports journalist suggests this awkward balancing act between Konami and EA around Italian club rights will not change systems soon – much the dismay of virtual Serie A managers!
The Bottom Line
It‘s clear that although present as "Roma FC", the actual Roma does not fully appear in EA‘s FIFA 23 due to an ongoing 5 year exclusive licensing agreement between the club and Konami‘s eFootball series.
This means their badge, kits, stadium naming rights and other branding assets cannot be included authentically. Only the squad names, player likenesses and attributes remain accurate.
There is strong indication Roma wish to restore their FIFA partnership once their current Konami deal expires in 2024. But nothing is guaranteed, with a renewal threatening to prolong their unlicensed ‘Roma FC‘ status spanning back to FIFA 19.
As someone who passionately enjoys managing Roma across 1990s FIFA titles, I sorely hope 2023 does bring positive developments. Otherwise the Giallorossi face fading towards obscurity in virtual football, falling behind rivals like Juventus now restored.
Yet the lucrative appeal of juggling exclusive partnerships suggests financial motivations could dash hopes of a Roma licensing return to FIFA 24 and beyond. We can only wait anxiously for updates over the next year!
