As we reported last week EA and FIFA are hanging up the collaborative boots, with EA revealing its new footy boots to be EA Sports FC, set to debut in 2023.

Meanwhile, FIFA remained optimistic about staying relevant in gaming, declaring that the organisation was talking to "leading game publishers, media companies and investors" and that they still saw any new FIFA title as "the only authentic, real game that has the FIFA name".

Watching all of this from afar is Take-Two, parent company for the 2K Sports brand, that has been strategically building out its sports roster over a number of year and whose president, Strauss Zelnick, recently said on an earnings call in regards to the fallout between EA and FIFA that "we tend to be thoughtful about our business at all times". A coy response when asked if Take-Two had any plans to seek the FIFA license.

"We’re excited about building out our sports business and we don’t have much else to say at the moment,” Zelnick declared.

In speaking with IGN before the earnings call about the potential to swoop on the brand, Zelnick kicked off what will no doubt become 'read into this what you will' messaging around it all, saying: "We're definitely interested in expanding our opportunities in sports, and FIFA has a great brand and incredible clout, but we have no current plans to discuss".

EA Sports and 2K Sports have had a subdued rivalry over recent years that hasn't played out as a publicly messy affair but has nonetheless had its moments. Between the likes of NBA 2K and EA Sports NBA Live, as well as 2K Sports recently throwing everything into the pro golfing world with PGA Tour 2K and its signing of Tiger Woods to the brand, who used to be ambassador for EA's PGA golfing greens.

We'll keep an eye on proceedings here with interest. There's also the potential for FIFA to look to Konami and PES or to just start things from scratch.

(Via VGC.)