overview:
Major League Soccer is treated badly when it comes to video games.
FrontRowSoccer.com Specials
Major League Soccer is treated badly when it comes to video games. Well, the video game market isn't full of great titles. FIFA's new name, EA FC, is better overall. Rebranded as an online-only experience, Pro Evo has yet to reclaim the throne of most playable game, and its licensing may be patchy. Strikerz's new game “UFL'' scheduled for release has been significantly delayed, so it seems likely that his MLS pro/release will be decided before he even tries it out.
Instead, U.S. soccer fans have remained a bit static. No actual stadiums appear in the video games, and the MLS experience often feels sidelined, with peripheral competitions such as England's FA Cup and the brand-new Europa Conference League better suited. It's been reported. In fact, he's one of the only serious options for MLS fans in the modern gaming landscape, but that wasn't always the case.
Here's a guide to MLS matches past and present to help get you in the mood this season.
Backyard Soccer MLS Edition (2001)
The PC-only title was centered around MLS, but if you're expecting a full simulation, including stadiums, you'll be disappointed. Backyard Soccer was targeted at a younger market and featured small-sided games played in someone's backyard. There were team name licenses, and players could play as their favorite MLS team of the time, or create their own using MLS players and some original his characters. It certainly wasn't an MLS simulation, but for U.S. soccer fans it was something to enjoy without feeling like a side dish to a major title.
ESPN MLS Game Night (2000)
2000 was a very simple time for gaming. It hadn't been many years since EA Sports had dominated, and PES was still in second place, but there were many other titles on the market. One of his, ESPN MLS Game Night, the spiritual sister of PES, was produced by Konami and was surprisingly playable. He was able to play the entire 32-game season as one of his 12 MLS teams at the time. There was also an option for international matches, with commentary in English or Spanish. While the technology wasn't developed enough to accommodate a full stadium, this was as close to a dedicated MLS match as you can get today. A sequel, ESPN MLS Extra Time, was released a year later on the PlayStation 2 and was a huge success.
EA Sports FC 24 (2024)
We pick up the thread for the last FIFA game, now known as EA Sports FC. FIFA has been a powerful name in the video game industry for years, and this rebranding is just that. This is not a new game, but a spiritual successor to the previous title, much like when the San Jose Earthquakes became Houston's Dynamo. Different name but same club. When UFL lands, it will be similar to the San Diego expansion, offering something different with a new title in a fresh look.
EA Sports is one of the reasons MLS probably won't get its own matches. They purchased his league rights in 2002 after winning his second title on the ESPN series, establishing a dominant position in the market. The game, still called FIFA, allows the player to play his MLS season or as a player with his MLS team in the online version. In fact, the culture that has been built around the game ever since is typified by his tips for FIFA betting, which outlines how fans can now watch games and research rosters without playing themselves. Masu. This is a giant in the gaming world, represented by the profits that EA Sports recorded in his 2022 year (he made $1.87 billion in the fourth quarter of the same year). While these numbers are impressive, they are also limiting when it comes to bringing something MLS-centric to market. EA Sports has such earning power that no one else can capture market share without serious investment. Sadly, the industry has moved away from single games covering leagues and teams, and licensing laws make it less likely that indie developers will take a shot at releasing something.
conclusion
Major League Soccer has never been covered in such depth, with full rosters and matches played in big-budget games, but at the same time as part of the broader EA Sports franchise. Sometimes it feels a little underrated. It's unclear if UFL will improve that, but I highly doubt it. These days, video games tend to be global endeavors, and while that means better graphics and depth, it also means that the world's biggest leagues always take center stage.
