Close Menu
WTX News
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • True story behind Netflix’s ‘haunting’ crime drama about Italy’s most notorious serial killer
    • Who will win the 2025 F1 world title? Our writers have their say
    • Regretting You director: ‘I wanted Colleen Hoover to have a good experience on this one’
    • North Korea fires ballistic missiles, says Seoul
    • Archer to miss ODI as England step up Ashes prep
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    WTX News
    • Live News
      • US News
      • EU News
      • UK News
      • Politics
      • COVID-19
      • Business
      • Tech zone
    • World news
      • Middle East News
        • UAE News
        • Palestine News
      • Europe
        • Italian News
        • Spanish News
      • Africa news
      • South America
      • North America
      • Asia
    • News Briefings
      • UK News Briefing
      • World News Briefing
      • Live Business News
    • Sports
      • Football News
      • Tennis
      • Women’s Football
    • MY World
      • Climate Change
      • In Review
      • Expose
      • Special Reports
        • Conscience Convoy
        • Rohingya Report
    • Entertainment
      • Insta Talk
      • Royal Family
      • Gaming News
      • TV Shows
      • Streaming
    • Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • Fashion
      • Cooking recipes
      • Luxury
      • Money Saving Expert
    • Travel
      • Culture
      • Holidays
    • Sign Up
      • Log In
    WTX News
    • Live News
    • World news
    • News Briefings
    • Sports
    • MY World
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Sign Up
    Home - Gaming - First FIFA game in years lets you play as a cartoon moose
    Gaming

    First FIFA game in years lets you play as a cartoon moose

    By Savanah Al Badri4 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Telegram WhatsApp
    First FIFA game in years lets you play as a cartoon moose

    Cliff Notes – First FIFA game in years lets you play as a cartoon moose

    • FIFA is launching an arcade-style game, “FIFA Heroes,” featuring mascot characters like Maple the moose, diverging from traditional football simulations.
    • Developed by the small New York studio ENVER, the game aims for a casual experience with unique moves for its cartoon animal characters, rather than focusing on real players or teams.
    • The announcement follows EA’s decision to rebrand its football games as EA Sports FC after ending its FIFA licensing agreement, leaving FIFA to explore new gaming avenues.

    First FIFA game in years lets you play as a cartoon moose

    Ah yes, the world famous footballer… Maple the moose (ENVER/YouTube)

    Instead of a traditional football sim, the FIFA organisation is planning an arcade style game full of mascot characters for 2026.

    Back in 2021, EA decided it didn’t want to pay for the FIFA licence anymore (especially since the price had gone up to $1 billion), which led to its football games being rebranded as the far less catchy EA Sports FC.

    As a result, the FIFA organisation itself promised it would offer its own officially licensed video games. However, aside from rumours of a 2K partnership, that have yet to go anywhere, FIFA has had nothing meaningful to share on the matter, allowing EA Sports FC to run unopposed.

    That’s set to change in 2026, as FIFA has finally announced its first new video game. It’s not from 2K, though, and is far from anything football fans could have expected.

    Dubbed FIFA Heroes and in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch (no mention of Switch 2), Android, and iOS, the announcement trailer doesn’t feature any gameplay, with the big reveal being that you play as cartoon animals.

    Specifically, the first handful of confirmed playable characters are Maple, Zayu, and Clutch, a trio of mascots designed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Each one represents one of the three countries where the event is being held: Canada, Mexico, and the US.

    It does sound like there will be actual footballers in the game, according to FIFA, but it seems FIFA Heroes is aiming to be a far more casual, arcade-like experience, as opposed to a football sim – especially with talk of unique special moves for the mascot characters.

    Expert, exclusive gaming analysis

    ‘With dynamic physics and pitch-shattering power moves, master your tactical prowess and take on your pals in this 5-a-side extravaganza,’ says FIFA.

    ‘Build your dream squad with beloved football personalities, recognisable fictional characters and FIFA’s official mascots through the years, tackle PvE before going head-to-head with your mates. Take on arcade fast matches and challenges to progress your club through PvE career milestones!’

    Curiously, FIFA’s chosen developer is ENVER, a New York City based studio that, according to its LinkedIn profile, only has upwards of 200 employees and has worked primarily on VR games.

    It’s strange that of all the studios FIFA could have chosen to partner with, it’s picked a small developer that, judging by its portfolio, has no experience with console development and whose only sports games are racing related.

    No doubt, the very straightforward explanation is that ENVER is cheap, whereas working with someone like 2K would not be. To go back to that rumour, parent company Take-Two acknowledged the rumours last year and had this to say about it:

    ‘… with regards to the FIFA licence, it does not bring along with it rights; it doesn’t come with players, teams, or leagues. So it’s not as simple, for example, as negotiating with the NFL, or the NBA, or MLB, where at most you have to negotiate with a league and a player’s association.’

    Even if it didn’t say it outright, this suggests that Take-Two felt the asking price for the FIFA licence wasn’t worth it, since there’s still a lot it doesn’t include – namely the real players and teams which FIFA Heroes seems to lack.

    Despite what the trailer suggests, the game is coming to consoles too (ENVER/YouTube)

    Email [email protected], leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter.

    To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.

    Comment now

    Comments

    Arts and Entertainment Nintendo PlayStation UK Entertainment Xbox
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Telegram WhatsApp
    Previous ArticleWhat we know about the synagogue attack in Manchester
    Next Article Verstappen pauses GT3 outings until 2026 – but it depends on complexity of F1 regulations
    Savanah Al Badri
    • X (Twitter)

    Savanah is the Fashion news correspondent for WTX News. She has over 15 years experience in journalism and communications on a range of organisations, with roles that range from Reporting and Editorial to Brand Account Manager and production roles. She regularly writes features in Middle eastern Fashion and the latest trends coming through the world of fashion.

    Related Posts

    PS5 generation was worth it just for faster loading times, says Sony developer
    Gaming

    PS5 generation was worth it just for faster loading times, says Sony developer

    What is the best Xbox Series X first party game?
    Gaming

    What is the best Xbox Series X first party game?

    Should you upgrade to a PS5 console?
    Gaming

    Should you upgrade to a PS5 console?

    Next gen Xbox is ‘100%’ in development says Microsoft but fans aren’t so sure
    Gaming

    Next gen Xbox is ‘100%’ in development says Microsoft but fans aren’t so sure

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Advertisment
    News Headlines
    North Korea fires ballistic missiles, says Seoul

    North Korea fires ballistic missiles, says Seoul

    Burj Al Khazzan reimagined for a sustainable Riyadh

    Burj Al Khazzan reimagined for a sustainable Riyadh

    Save 70% on VIP subscription
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    Advert by Sponsors
    More from WTX News
    The latest gaming news - with game reviews and tips and tricks. updated 24 hours a day.
    The latest gaming news
    Hot off the press!
    • True story behind Netflix’s ‘haunting’ crime drama about Italy’s most notorious serial killer October 22, 2025
    • Who will win the 2025 F1 world title? Our writers have their say October 22, 2025
    • Regretting You director: ‘I wanted Colleen Hoover to have a good experience on this one’ October 22, 2025
    • North Korea fires ballistic missiles, says Seoul October 22, 2025
    • Archer to miss ODI as England step up Ashes prep October 22, 2025
    WTX News latest breaking news sports and travel
    Latest News and analysis - Deciphering through the BS with exclusive News Briefings
    Facebook X (Twitter) TikTok Instagram

    News

    • World News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • EU News
    • Business
    • Opinions
    • News Briefing
    • Live News

    Company

    • About WTX News
    • Register
    • Advertising
    • Work with us
    • Contact
    • Community
    • GDPR Policy
    • Privacy

    Services

    • Fitness for free
    • Insta Talk
    • How to guides
    • Climate Change
    • In Review
    • Expose
    • NEWS SUMMARY
    • Money Saving Expert

    News delivered to your inbox

    Copyright WTX News 2025

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.