The UEFA European Championship has its own video games licensed from European football's governing body, UEFA. Six games have been released so far, with the first game released in 1996. Originally held by Gremlin Interactive, it was then held by Electronic Arts from Euro 2000 until Euro 2012. Konami had the rights for Euro 2016 and 2020.[1]EA Sports have again had the rights since Euro 2024.[2]
The game developed and published by TecMagik was released for the Master System in 1992 to coincide with UEFA Euro 1992. The game includes both single-player and multiplayer game modes. Players can play in a friendly match or in the tournament mode.[3]
The game by Gremlin Interactive modified some parts in their Actua Soccer title, including the 16 teams present in the final stage with accurate rosters and stadiums, as well as Euro 96 mode, Exhibition Match, Practice Penalties, and Practice game.
It was sold for Windows, DOS, and the Sega Saturn. The Saturn version was released in Europe only in May 1996. It was the subject of considerable media hype and was a major system-seller for the Saturn in the United Kingdom.[4]
After Electronic Arts purchased the license, it was expected[who?] the game would be as good as World Cup 98, a major hit two years before. Euro 2000 uses a modified version of the FIFA 2000 engine.
Players can choose from 51 national teams and it includes more game modes than UEFA Euro 2000, such as a fantasy mode where two teams composed of hand-picked players square-off with each other, leagues and a knock-out "home and away" friendly match and a penalty shoot-out mode, as well as Euro 2004 qualifying, and Euro 2004 itself.
The game was released by EA Sports as a downloadable expansion pack for FIFA 12 on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on 24 April 2012. It featured all 53 teams of Europe and 8 stadiums of UEFA Euro 2012. It marks a change in EA's strategy, with all previous football games centred on either the World Cup or European Championships having been released as full-priced standalone games.
The game was released by Konami as a free DLC on Pro Evolution Soccer 2016.[6][1] Real Madrid and Wales player Gareth Bale features on the cover.[7] The PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 versions were released as standalone both physically and digitally.
The game was released by Konami as a free DLC on eFootball PES 2020 in June 2020, and on the 2021 Season Update on launch day. It includes the official kits and player likenesses for all 55 officially licensed UEFA teams. The update also includes five out of eleven venues of the tournament, as well as the official match ball.[8][9]
