If you’ve been curious about the fate of the FIFA license following its split from EA, here’s the latest update. Today marks the announcement of FIFA Heroes, an engaging 5-a-side soccer game featuring a cast of officially sanctioned FIFA mascots.

In the reveal trailer, viewers are introduced to these mascots, who are vibrant and cartoonish figures representing three prominent nations. Players will recognize Clutch the eagle from the USA, Zayu the jaguar from Mexico, and of course, Maple the moose from Canada.

According to the official press release accompanying the announcement, these mascots will come equipped with unique “super abilities and special moves” in FIFA Heroes. Gamers can look forward to participating in both player-versus-environment (PvE) matches and competitive online player-versus-player (PvP) gameplay.

Christian Volk, the Director of Gaming and eSports at FIFA, shared insights in the FIFA Heroes press release, stating: “Our mission at FIFA has always been to bring people together through the passion for football. With FIFA Heroes, fans can assemble a multiverse team by mixing their beloved fictional heroes, favorite players, and our official mascots. We aim to share the joy of football with a new generation while also evoking nostalgia and enjoyment for families and longtime FIFA enthusiasts. FIFA Heroes will be an integral part of our digital football lineup under the FIFAe brand, adding a vital layer to our expanding gaming ecosystem.”

While it holds potential, FIFA Heroes marks a significant shift from the traditional FIFA offerings within the gaming realm. The previous FIFA series, now known as EAFC, carved out a dominant position in the sports genre by delivering a realistic portrayal of soccer along with numerous professional athletes. In contrast, FIFA Heroes takes a drastically different route.

Set to launch in 2026, FIFA Heroes does not yet have a specific release date. It will be available on mobile devices, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.

This announcement coincides with EA’s release of EA FC’s latest installment, EAFC26, which seems to be resonating well with fans, retaining many popular features from earlier titles in the series, as well as from the FIFA lineup. Although EA parted ways with the FIFA brand in 2022, it remains the go-to football gaming franchise despite the branding changes.