The fourth qualifier in the FIFA 22 Global Series (FGS) has been moved to Monday and Tuesday, the community reacted angrily and without understanding. An analysis by Niklas Aßfalg.
The scheduling of the fourth and last FGS Qualifier has caused a lot of resentment: EA SPORTS once again showed a lack of tact and scheduled the competition for 23 and 24 May – a Monday and a Tuesday. This measure is in stark and inexplicable contrast to the usual procedure.
The first three FGS Qualifiers were all already scheduled for weekends at the start of the eSports season, accordingly the community had expected the same for the last edition. EA SPORTS did not provide an explanation as to how this alternative dating came about, which also met with criticism.
Collision with work and school
The developer and promoter consistently lacks the transparency needed to appease professionals as well as fans, making itself the target of anger. The skill value requirement for the third FGS qualifier, for example, was raised from 2,250 to 2,375 points without warning or explanation.
Now EA SPORTS is threatened with a drop-out of various possible participants for the fourth FGS Qualifier: Numerous ambitious FIFA players are still attending school, some are in the middle of exam preparations at the end of May – or even directly in the exam phase. Moreover, not all aspirants can finance themselves purely through eSports.
Misjudgement of the eSports cosmos?
It almost seems like EA SPORTS doesn’t know its own eSports cosmos enough to adequately assess the consequences of its decisions. “FGS 4 on a Monday and Tuesday. EA has such good prize money, you don’t have to go to school or work,” commented FC Basel’s Ruben Pereira wryly.
Sascha Hendel from FSV Zwickau finds more direct words: “I would be in favour of all eSports players boycotting the FGS 4. I honestly think it’s cheeky to hold it on a Monday and Tuesday. What are they thinking?” A question EA SPORTS could answer – but it is no longer to be expected.
Complicated conditions for non-elites
The scheduling is likely to mean that only the elite of the scene will find reasonable conditions for the fourth FGS Qualifier. The organiser, on the other hand, is making it significantly more difficult for ambitious amateurs and semi-professionals. It seems as if the area-wide profitability of FIFA eSports is massively overestimated – by its own organiser. Because school and exams will have to come first for most people, even more so for a hobby.
