Two annual football games show just how late licensed releases reached the PlayStation 2: FIFA 13 had recorded PS2 releases in September 2012, and FIFA 14 followed in September 2013. That makes them striking examples of the console’s long tail, but the dates are regional records—not a single worldwide launch date or proof of why publishers continued releasing them.
Which late PS2 games stand out?
FIFA 13 and FIFA 14 are clear examples of annual licensed sports games arriving on PS2 well after the console had become an older platform. Their release records place the games’ regional launches in 2012 and 2013 respectively. The dates establish that PS2 editions were still being released; they do not establish how many copies sold or what business or technical considerations led publishers to keep making them.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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FIFA Soccer 12 - PlayStation 2 | $65.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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FIFA Soccer 09 - PlayStation 2 (Certified Refurbished) | $15.85 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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FIFA Soccer 11 - PlayStation 2 | $34.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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FIFA Soccer 10 - PlayStation 2 (Renewed) | $30.45 | Buy on Amazon |
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When did FIFA 13 and FIFA 14 reach PS2?
GameFAQs’ PS2 release records list the following dates. Each is a regional date, not a universal launch date.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute| Game | Region | Recorded PS2 release date |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA Soccer 13 | United States | September 25, 2012 |
| FIFA Soccer 13 | Europe | September 28, 2012 |
| FIFA 14 | United States | September 24, 2013 |
| FIFA 14 | Selected European editions | September 26, 2013 |
Sources: GameFAQs’ FIFA Soccer 13 PS2 release information and GameFAQs’ FIFA 14 PS2 release information. The records show different dates by region and, for FIFA 14, identify selected European editions; they should not be collapsed into a claim that either game had one worldwide release date.
#1 Best Overall
- Realistic Gameplay - Gameplay mirrors real-world football with sophisticated ball control, responsive shooting and pin-point passing.
- Complete Authenticity - Featuring 30 officially licensed leagues, 500 licensed teams and 15,000 players.
- Career Mode - Choose to begin your campaign as a player, player/manager or manager as you lead your club through 15 seasons of club football. Plus, players compete for global supremacy in international competition every 4 years. Your success as a player or manager is ranked through the FAME system. The better your performance the more FAME you receive and more prestigious offers will become available on your journey to become a football legend.
- Be The Goalkeeper - Take control of the goalkeeper and command the game from the most important position on the pitch. Dive for shots, cut-off crosses and through balls into the box and prove yourself as your team's number one.
- Lounge Mode - Exclusive to the PlayStation 2, Lounge Mode enables up to 8 profiles to be saved and to compete against each other through stat tracking, adding another level of competition for all gamers in the household.
What did contemporary coverage say?
On September 22, 2013, PlayStation Blog published a weekly release roundup titled The Drop: New PlayStation Releases for September 24th 2013. It named FIFA 14 and Pro Evolution Soccer 14 in its football-game discussion and introduced the platform list by saying it included “a few classic PS2 games.” This is useful contemporary context for how late PS2 games appeared alongside newer PlayStation releases. It is not, by itself, an exact regional PS2 release record for Pro Evolution Soccer 14.
Read the September 22, 2013 PlayStation Blog roundup.
Rank #2
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
- 500 New Animation Sequences
- Collision Detection System With 360 degree coverage players behave according to their physical attributes
- Shielding System Player strength and momentum determine outcomes in challenges
- Pro Skill Moves 32 tricks in your arsenal
Why was the PS2 still getting annual football games?
The release dates show that annual football titles continued to receive PS2 editions into 2013. They do not explain why. Without evidence tying those releases to particular sales, audience sizes, development costs, or publisher decisions, it would be speculation to attribute them to the console’s installed base or to a specific commercial strategy.
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Nor do these examples establish which game was the final PS2 release. A weekly roundup, a release database, and a regional physical release record document different things; none of the cited information provides an exhaustive worldwide catalog of late PS2 games.
Rank #3
- A Quick Play option allows you to spend less time navigating menus and more time playing
- New Career Mode where you can choose to begin your campaign as a player, player/manager or manager as you lead your club through 15 seasons and international competition every 4 years
- Lounge Mode allows up to 8 profiles to be saved and compete against each other through stat tracking adding another level of competition
- AI teammates now make more intelligent moves to open space with a sense of greater urgency opening up more scoring opportunities and the ability to evade defenders
- Gamer accomplishments are awarded as you progress through your career and are unlocked as you hit certain milestones
What should collectors know about FIFA 14 for PS2?
The release record identifies FIFA 14 PS2 editions, making the game a concrete title to look for if you collect late-generation PlayStation 2 releases. Check the regional edition and the condition of the case, disc, and any included materials when evaluating a copy. The release records establish editions and dates, but do not establish current availability or prices.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Improved teammate and goal keeper AI resulting in increased passing and crossing options from teammates, and more authentic decision-making and improved variation from goalkeepers.
- More responsive gameplay including heading and crossing improvements, player switching, skill moves, the ability to auto-evade slide tackles in certain scenarios, and quick free kicks to keep the game tempo going.
- Individual team styles made up of 9 attacking and 5 defensive general styles, as well as 13 special case teams with their own unique style of play, based on the real world.
- Pre-match scouting reports that provide help in planning your attack against every opponent, highlighting team styles and key players to watch out for.
- The most in-depth Season Mode to date, allowing you to focus on playing matches with the current crop of players available in your club, making it a lighter, faster way to take your team to the top.
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