Hundreds of thousands of people around the world are probably playing it in these seconds, many more are familiar with the name: the video game series Fifa, in which players can simulate real football matches and which is named after the world football association.

A new version of the game has been published every year for the past 23 years, featuring the latest players, coaches, stadiums and clubs from the world of professional football.

As the manufacturer of the game Electronic Arts (EA) announced on Tuesday evening, the game series will be renamed “EA Sports FC” next year and the cooperation with Fifa will end after 30 years.

Apparently, the two parties failed to reach a new license agreement.

Everything that has made the previous games is still there, according to a blog entry published by the company in the evening.

We continue to work with official license partners from professional football, for example for leagues, players, stadiums and football clubs.

Another version is to be released this fall together with Fifa.

The developer speaks of the "greatest FIFA of all time".

As early as October, an EA manager had indicated a name change and publicized problems in the negotiations with the world football association.

There was speculation that it was about the cost of the license.

David Jackson, deputy chairman for the EA Sports Fifa brand, told the “Spiegel” that the talks did not fail because of that.

"Of course, money plays a role in every negotiation," Jackson said.

"But I don't think it was the decisive factor for either side." It is important to have the freedom "to create the most impressive experiences possible," said the manager.

As a license partner of Fifa, this has not been "necessarily possible" so far.

EA Sports sees itself slowed down by the fact that, due to the name deal, it is currently unable to decide independently of the association which third-party companies it will cooperate with for and around its football video game.

There is no turning back, announcing the new name is not a negotiating tactic.

A statement from Fifa was not yet available on Tuesday evening.

According to the industry association game, the football simulation FIFA has been one of the best-selling games in Germany for years.

A broad e-sports ecosystem has developed around the game, in which the DFL and many German football clubs are also heavily involved.

The end of the partnership with the world football association Fifa affected Electronic Arts shortly after the announcement.

The provider's shares fell 2.5 percent on Wall Street.