EA: FIFA is biggest game of 2007

Electronic Arts has proclaimed FIFA 08 as ‘the true entertainment launch of the year’ after the game achieved one million sales in the UK after just nine weeks on the market.

The title was the first release to hit the milestone this year – a week earlier than FIFA 07 achieved the same sales figure in 2006.

And EA believes that makes it a bigger deal than any other major release in 2007 – including Microsoft’s Halo 3, 2K Games’ Bioshock and, of course, rival Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2008.

We’re thrilled with the performance of FIFA 08,” EA’s UK marketing manager Dan Holman told MCV. Being the first game to reach the one million unit milestone this calendar year is a fantastic achievement and makes FIFA 08 the true entertainment launch of the year. To have beaten the records we set last year with FIFA 07 makes it all the more satisfying.

The game is winning back critics and fans in droves and broadening the football market as a whole.”

EA believes FIFA 08 is the only true next-gen football game on the market” – and isn’t shy when it comes to pointing the finger at the perceived flaws of PES 2008.

Konami by its own admission has faltered with its offering – shipping a game with ‘rushed development’ which is forcing it back to the drawing board,” added Holman. FIFA 08 is the only true next-gen football game on the market and we have significant plans in the run-up to Christmas to maximize our current leadership.”