Electronic Arts has announced a partnership with Spanish La Liga giants F.C. Barcelona for a three-year deal that will make EA Sports the official video game partner for the club.
EA has already captured 3D head scans of as many as 17 F.C. Barcelona players like Xavi Hernandez, Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, Dani Alves, and Andres Iniesta for FIFA 14, which will appear as 3D digital player models in FIFA 14.
What’s more, fans visiting the real life Camp Nou in Barcelona over the course of the 2013-14 La Liga season will also have the opportunity to visit the EA Sports Dugout and play a number of EA-developed titles, including FIFA 14.
“Joining a world class football club like Barcelona as an Official Club Partner is a fantastic opportunity for EA SPORTS and our fans,” said Matt Bilbey, Senior Vice President and Group General Manager, EA SPORTS. “We will create a deeper connection with their passionate, global fan base, and use our games as a platform to engage supporters all around the world for years to come.”
Apart from the 3D modeling, Camp Nou, Barcelona’s home ground, will be also be “a featured stadium. F.C. Barcelona and its superstar forward and FIFA 14 cover athlete, Lionel Messi, will become central figures in global marketing, advertising and social media activities for the critically acclaimed FIFA franchise. Plus, F.C. Barcelona will host an exclusive videogame tournament later this year to determine the best FIFA 14 player on the squad.”
With the partnership in place, Barcelona and EA are also set to develop a host of “interactive activities” to entertain and engage fans not only at Camp Nou but also around the world. In addition, the club will “receive in-game insights and data about how their fans engage with the club through EA SPORTS FIFA.”
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with EA SPORTS, one of the world's leading sports and entertainment brands, and to create a stronger relationship between our global fan bases. We encourage everyone to try out the game, get a feel for being under the skin of our players and emulating their actions on the pitch; without a doubt those who try it will enjoy it," said Laurent Colette, Chief Marketing Officer at F.C. Barcelona.
FIFA 14 is currently set for release later this year. Check out the trailer below for more info.