Why Juventus is Not in FIFA 22: An In-Depth Analysis
The short answer is: Juventus signed an exclusive deal with Konami, so EA Sports can‘t include them in FIFA 22. But there‘s more to the story, so let me break down this complex licensing issue as an industry insider.
The Konami Exclusivity Deal
In 2019, Juventus signed a major deal with Konami which gave their PES series exclusive rights to the club‘s intellectual property. This means all Juventus branding including:
- Name
- Logo and crest
- Official kits and training apparel
- Stadium name and likeness
Believe me when I say these licensing deals are complex, but in essence Juventus sold exclusive rights to Konami. This gave PES a major competitive edge over the FIFA series.
Impact on FIFA 22: Enter "Piemonte Calcio"
With EA unable to license Juventus in FIFA 22 directly, they replaced the club with a fictional team called Piemonte Calcio. This features Juve‘s roster and players, but strips all Juventus IP and branding.
As a life-long FIFA player, this really dampens the experience playing as your favorite club when they have a fake name and lack authenticity.
Based on community feedback, fans are clearly annoyed that a realistic Juve experience is impossible in FIFA 22. But EA‘s hands are contractually tied by the Konami deal.
| Team | FIFA 21 Name | FIFA 22 Name |
|---|---|---|
| Juventus | Juventus | Piemonte Calcio |
Table showing how Juventus lost their real name in FIFA 22
My Analysis of This Licensing Issue
As someone who follows the gaming industry closely, here is my hot take on this situation:
EA made a tactical mistake not locking down long-term partnerships with major clubs like Juventus. With Konami willing to make big investments into PES via exclusive deals, FIFA‘s content advantage is slowly eroding.
Based on Juventus‘ strong global brand, I estimate Konami paid over $150 million for their multi-year exclusivity rights. That‘s a massive deal for PES!
So while fans vent their anger at EA, they are simply losing the licensing battle with deep-pocketed competition. Securing official partnerships now requires outrageous sums which not even EA can afford.
Will Juventus Return to FIFA?
Finally, there is light at the end of tunnel! In July 2022, EA announced Juventus would return to FIFA 23 this year:
Juventus‘ home stadium – the Allianz Stadium – will return in FIFA 23, authentically recreated alongside the club‘s logo and iconic kits.
This confirms Juventus and Konami did not extend their exclusive deal. It seems EA realized they need to lock-in long-term contracts, forking out big money to re-acquire official club rights.
While we‘ll have one last year without the real Juventus in FIFA 22, fans can rest assured knowing EA learned from this situation. Expect them to aggressively pursue licensing so it never happens again!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
