FIFA Rivals Celebrates Global Launch

Mythical Games has officially launched FIFA Rivals worldwide on both the App Store and Google Play, following a successful soft launch. The mobile football game, developed in collaboration with FIFA, offers an arcade-style experience combined with digital ownership features enabled by Mythical’s hybrid web2/web3 platform. The release marks a new direction in football gaming by integrating competitive real-time gameplay with a tradeable in-game economy.

FIFA Rivals Celebrates Global Launch

FIFA Rivals Celebrates Global Launch

FIFA Rivals is designed with mobile users in mind, delivering fast-paced player-versus-player matches and live events. Players can build and manage their own football teams using a selection of real-life football stars and compete in various formats to rise on global leaderboards. The game includes a Scenarios Mode, which allows users to improve their skills and relive iconic football moments.

Controls and gameplay mechanics are tailored for casual and mainstream mobile gamers, with features that include skill moves, trick shots, and special signature plays modeled after real athletes. The intuitive interface aims to offer accessible gameplay without sacrificing the competitive edge that appeals to more experienced players.

FIFA Rivals Celebrates Global Launch

Integration of Digital Ownership and Marketplace

One of the distinguishing aspects of FIFA Rivals is its use of blockchain technology to support digital asset ownership and trading. In-game player cards function as digital collectibles, and players can buy, sell, or trade them through the Mythical Marketplace. This feature enables the creation of unique team rosters and adds a layer of strategic decision-making to the game. Importantly, users do not need prior web3 experience to engage with these features, as Mythical Games provides a custodial wallet to manage digital items securely within the platform.

The trading system has been designed to avoid platform fees commonly associated with blockchain transactions in app stores. Trades between players are often executed as barter-style exchanges involving multiple assets, which Mythical facilitates without incurring additional platform charges. This structure supports a seamless and cost-effective trading environment.

FIFA Rivals Celebrates Global Launch

Broader Goals and Strategic Partnerships

The launch of FIFA Rivals is part of FIFA’s wider objective to make digital football experiences more accessible to fans worldwide. Mythical Games, known for its previous titles such as NFL Rivals and Blankos Block Party, continues to explore new ways of combining gameplay and ownership in mobile games. With NFL Rivals achieving over seven million downloads and a robust digital marketplace, the company sees FIFA Rivals as a natural progression in expanding this model to a global football audience.

Adidas has also announced its support for FIFA Rivals, extending its involvement in gaming and digital ecosystems. While Adidas has previously explored web3 through collectible launches, this partnership focuses on gaming and player engagement.

FIFA Rivals Celebrates Global Launch

Evolving Industry Standards and Future Outlook

In an interview with GamesBeat John Linden, CEO of Mythical Games, said the company is moving away from emphasizing web3 terminology in its marketing. He stated that most users focus on the gameplay and trading functionality rather than the underlying technology. Linden also noted recent changes in how app stores handle web3 marketplaces, with fewer restrictions and greater opportunities for developers to promote secondary markets and in-game economies.

The company believes the loosening of marketplace policies, coupled with increasing familiarity among players with digital trading systems, creates a more favorable environment for games like FIFA Rivals. Linden also acknowledged the broader influence of industry movements, including Epic Games’ recent progress in app distribution and monetization, which may pave the way for more open digital game economies.

Final Thoughts

As Mythical Games continues to expand, the team has grown to nearly 250 employees. The company remains focused on developing games that balance entertainment with economic participation, offering players around the world new ways to interact with their favorite sports through mobile gaming. FIFA Rivals is now available as a free download on both major mobile platforms, with updates and community engagement hosted at fifa.rivals.game and on X (@fifarivals).