- FIFA’s upcoming blockchain-powered game, FIFA Rivals, promises to revolutionise football gaming with digital asset ownership and trade.
- However, with blockchain technology potentially providing real ownership, it must overcome challenges such as security concerns, environmental impact, and player trust before it can succeed.
“Imagine owning your favourite player,” said Duke Vu. “Once you see the possibilities, I think you’ll be hooked.”
Duke Vu, CEO of Fungies.io, believes in the transformative potential of blockchain technology in the gaming world. His excitement reflects a larger shift, as FIFA ventures into blockchain gaming with FIFA Rivals—a move that could redefine fan engagement.
But not everyone shares his optimism.
Announcement of FIFA Rivals 2025
For those unfamiliar, FIFA Rivals is the latest collaboration between FIFA and Mythical Games, showcasing the possibilities of blockchain integration within a beloved global video game.
Announced on 22 November and set to launch in the summer of 2025, FIFA Rivals promises to combine traditional gameplay with the innovations of blockchain, potentially offering players the chance to own and trade digital assets like football stars. The Mythos blockchain powers this virtual economy, a feature that FIFA hopes will appeal to a new generation of gamers. Yet for all its ambition, the game has already sparked heated debates.
Also read: FIFA will launch blockchain soccer game ‘FIFA Rivals’
The teaser trailer—33 seconds of vibrant visuals and intriguing hints—has done little to quell the speculation. What does “ownership” truly mean in this context? Can digital players hold the same emotional resonance as a favourite team jersey or an autographed ball? And, perhaps most importantly, will blockchain’s controversial reputation overshadow the game’s promise?
A game of many goals
FIFA’s venture into blockchain is a part of a larger trend reshaping industries across the globe. From finance to art, Web3 technology has promised transparency, security, and democratization. For gaming, these ideas translate into one tantalizing possibility: the power to own.
At its core, Web3 represents the possible next evolution of the internet—a decentralized, user-driven network powered by blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and smart contracts. Unlike Web2, dominated by centralized platforms, Web3 aims to return control and data ownership to users, fostering an environment where people can transact and interact without relying on intermediaries. The concept was popularized in 2014 by Gavin Wood, co-founder of Ethereum, who envisioned a decentralized web where applications are trustless and inherently secure. Since then, the technology has matured, with real-world applications like decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) demonstrating its potential. By merging transparency and digital ownership, Web3 creates a new paradigm for industries ranging from gaming to healthcare and beyond.
Also read: What is Web3 gaming?
Ownership in gaming is not new. Games like The Sims or FIFA Ultimate Team have long given players control over their avatars and teams. But those assets have always been tethered to the game itself. You could invest hours—and money—building a dream squad, only to lose it all when the game’s servers shut down or a new edition replaced the old. Blockchain seeks to upend that paradigm. In the words of Jiri Kobelka, co-founder and former CEO of blockchain development platform Tatum, “Traditional games are like renting – no matter how much you spend, you don’t own anything. With blockchain, owning assets means they’re yours.”
Traditional games are like renting – no matter how much you spend, you don’t own anything. With blockchain, owning assets means they’re yours.
Jiri Kobelka, co-founder of Tatum
With Mythos, FIFA Rivals allows players to buy, trade, and even sell their digital football stars, creating a virtual economy that mimics real-world sports dynamics. The appeal is seemingly undeniable: spotting a talented rookie, nurturing their stats, and selling them for a tidy profit echoes the strategies of top football clubs.
But while this innovation captures imaginations, it also stokes fears.
The divided community opinion on FIFA Rivals
On X (formerly Twitter), reactions to FIFA Rivals have been mixed. For every fan hailing it as “the future of gaming,” there’s another lamenting its focus on speculative assets over gameplay.
Enthusiasts like @SquiddyNFT hail FIFA as a pioneer of Web3 gaming wrote, “Let’s go! Another amazing partnership for Mythical. They’re leading the way in web3 gaming.” While another set of users such as @DTunez5 predict failure, preemptively calling it a “massive flop.”
Such division is hardly surprising. Skeptics may have valid concerns, given the turbulent history of blockchain in gaming, as exemplified by Axie Infinity. Once heralded as a trailblazer in play-to-earn (P2E) gaming, Axie achieved massive success, peaking at 2.7 million daily users in 2021 and generating over $1.3 billion in revenue. However, its collapse highlighted critical flaws. Axie’s economy, heavily reliant on volatile cryptocurrency, saw its token values—AXS and SLP—plummet as new user growth stagnated, creating a classic Ponzi-like structure. The game also faced a significant security breach when $624 million was stolen from the Ronin Network, a blockchain bridge developed by Axie’s creators. This vulnerability stemmed from an insufficient validator system, which hackers exploited, compromising five of nine validators to siphon funds. Although investors like Binance and Andreessen Horowitz helped bail out Axie, the damage to its reputation was substantial, and trust in its ecosystem eroded.
Vu strikes a balance between cautious optimism and grounded realism when assessing FIFA Rivals’ potential. “Blockchain can feel overwhelming for newcomers,” he admits. “Then there’s scalability—games need to handle millions of transactions quickly and affordably, and we’re not quite there yet. Also, there’s still a lot of scepticism about blockchain in general—whether it’s about security, scams, or the actual value of digital assets.”
Thus, FIFA Rivals faces a challenging path even before it launches. To succeed, it must address these historical pitfalls, ensuring sustainable in-game economies and robust security measures to gain players’ trust in blockchain mechanics with engaging gameplay. Whether FIFA Rivals can overcome these challenges remains to be seen, but lessons from games such as Axie Infinity provide a cautionary tale for any future Web3 ventures, and the fans are aware of it.
Also read: DeFi and gaming lead blockchain innovation
The heart of the technology
To understand FIFA Rivals, one must first understand its technological backbone. The Mythos blockchain is a decentralised ledger designed to support gaming ecosystems. As mentioned before, unlike traditional servers, which are controlled by a single entity, blockchains are distributed across multiple nodes, ensuring greater security and transparency.
In FIFA Rivals, this system would most likely underpin the game’s asset marketplace.
Vu describes the impact of this integration, stating, “The integration of blockchain in FIFA Rivals, especially with player ownership and trading on digital marketplaces, is a total game-changer for fan interaction,” he continued, “Fans can actually own in-game assets like players, and that ownership has real value. To me, this makes the experience so much more personal and engaging.” Drawing comparisons with real-life collectibles such as football cards, he said, “It’s like the digital version of collecting football cards, but way more interactive—you’re actively using those assets in gameplay, trading them, or even earning from them.”
“The integration of blockchain in FIFA Rivals, especially with player ownership and trading on digital marketplaces, is a total game-changer for fan interaction”
Duke Vu, CEO of Fungies.io
The blockchain infrastructure ensures that these assets belong to players, not developers. Even in the hypothetical scenario of FIFA Rivals shutting down, these digital assets could theoretically retain their value, illustrating a key advantage of decentralisation.
However, as with all digital innovations, blockchain faces significant real-world challenges. As Kobelka pointed out, “The biggest hurdles are transaction costs and complexity. Imagine buying a player but paying $10 in fees – it breaks the fun.” He also highlighted the complexity of blockchain setup as another obstacle. “Asking gamers to set up wallets is like asking a football fan to learn quantum physics. Simplifying this process, like auto-generating wallets during signup, can solve it,” he added.
Another significant critique is its environmental impact. Mythos claims to prioritise energy efficiency, distancing itself from the energy-intensive proof-of-work protocols often associated with environmental concerns. However, in an era increasingly focused on climate consciousness, blockchain’s energy consumption remains a point of contention.
Digital assets often occupy legal grey zones, with definitions varying across jurisdictions. Are these assets collectibles, securities, or something else? Without clear regulatory frameworks, FIFA Rivals might risk market alienation, particularly in regions with stringent gaming laws. This dual pressure of environmental and regulatory concerns presents significant hurdles as FIFA Rivals attempts to blend blockchain technology with mainstream gaming culture. The game’s ability to navigate these challenges will determine whether it becomes a standard-bearer for Web3 gaming or another failed experiment in blockchain innovation.
Also read: Sony Bank trials cryptocurrency for gaming, sports IP payments
Citing recent development, however, Vu remains enthusiastic, “But I really believe we’re heading in the right direction. New technologies like Layer 2 solutions are making transactions faster and cheaper.”
Layer 2 solutions refer to protocols built atop existing blockchain networks like Ethereum or Mythos to increase transaction speed and reduce costs. These solutions help alleviate the congestion typically found in main blockchain networks by processing transactions off-chain and then consolidating them back onto the main chain. Polygon, Optimism, and Arbitrum are notable Layer 2 solutions widely used in the gaming space. Polygon, for example, has powered games like Decentraland and Aavegotchi by enabling real-time trading and low-cost microtransactions, which are essential for user engagement in blockchain gaming. This added efficiency has led to broader adoption of blockchain technologies in gaming, contributing to the industry’s growth.
Vu adds, “More user-friendly platforms are being developed to simplify things for players. I also think as more trusted companies get involved in blockchain gaming, it’ll build confidence and help bring in a broader audience.” Recent data supports his optimism. Major players in the gaming industry, such as Ubisoft and Square Enix, have already tried to integrate blockchain into their ecosystems despite multiple setbacks.
Also read: Game tech firm Square Enix boosts Web3 gaming with HyperPlay
Also read: Ubisoft joins XPLA blockchain to validate digital asset ownership
Additionally, in October 2024, companies like Gunzilla Games also launched games built on blockchain, allowing players to mint NFTs in the form of in-game equipment such as skins and weapons. These efforts represent a wave of adoption in blockchain gaming advancements, an indication of how blockchain gaming is seemingly here to stay.
A changing game: What it means for the fans
As FIFA Rivals gears up for its 2025 release, some may be holding their breath, as it carries not only the expectations of fans but also the hopes of an industry at a crossroads. As multiple previous failures and continued efforts have demonstrated, the promise of blockchain gaming to escape controversies and become mainstream is a steep hill many are willing to die on, with seemingly great rewards and equally great punishment should it fail. Success would not only boost the FIFA brand but also inspire other mainstream gaming series to explore blockchain’s potential. Failure, on the other hand, could reinforce negative perceptions of the technology and set back its adoption in gaming.
The challenges remain formidable. Developers must ensure that blockchain features enhance, rather than complicate, gameplay. Accessibility will be key to attracting traditional gamers, many of whom remain wary of blockchain’s association with scams and overhyped NFT projects. Transparency will also be critical. Players need to trust that their investments are secure.
For fans, the game’s promise lies in its ability to create a new kind of connection with the sport they love. For the gaming industry, it represents a test of whether blockchain can move past its controversies and deliver real value. And for FIFA, it’s an opportunity to prove that even the oldest institutions can embrace the future. As Vu gave one final piece of advice to football fans new to blockchain gaming: “Don’t be afraid to dive in—it’s not as complicated as it looks. I know it can feel intimidating at first, but the potential is incredible.”
In the end, the success of FIFA Rivals will depend not on the technology itself but on the stories its players will tell. Whether that story is one of triumph or caution remains to be seen, but one thing is certain:
the game has already entered the conversation.
FAQs
FIFA Rivals is a new blockchain-powered football game that aims to offer players the ability to own, trade, and sell digital football players as assets, creating a virtual economy within the game. The game uses the Mythos blockchain to enable this system, marking a shift towards Web3 integration in gaming.
FIFA Rivals is a collaboration between FIFA and Mythical Games, with Mythical Games providing the blockchain infrastructure to support the game’s economy and asset ownership features.
Major concerns include the environmental impact of blockchain technology, the security risks highlighted by the Axie Infinity hack, scepticism surrounding blockchain’s speculative nature, and regulatory challenges across different jurisdictions. Additionally, the reputation of blockchain gaming is a point of contention due to past failures in similar projects.
The Mythos blockchain might powers the in-game economy of FIFA Rivals, allowing players to own, trade, and sell digital football assets.
Layer 2 solutions, like Polygon, Optimism, and Arbitrum, are used to enhance blockchain transaction speed and reduce costs. These solutions help alleviate congestion on the main blockchain networks by processing transactions off-chain and consolidating them back onto the main chain, making blockchain gaming more efficient and user-friendly.
