EA Reportedly Looking to Bring NCAA College Basketball Games Back

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I can hardly contain my excitement at the prospect of seeing the return of college basketball games to our consoles! The last time we had an NCAA Basketball game was back in 2010, and I still remember the thrill of leading my alma mater to victory on the virtual court.

According to Mike Straw from Insider Gaming, there have reportedly been private discussions between Electronic Arts (EA) and Take Two about developing separate collegiate basketball game series. Both companies previously had college-level involvement; EA’s franchise has been dormant since NCAA Basketball 2010, while 2K’s College Hoops ended with College Hoops 2K8 without any signs of resurfacing until now. The renewed interest in these games may be due to the success of EA’s recently revived college football series, College Football 25, which generated significant buzz among sports enthusiasts over the past year.

After a decade without any new releases, fans were eagerly anticipating something fresh, and its sales figures reflected this immense demand. As of now, College Football 25 holds the record for the highest-selling U.S. sports game ever, and is projected to top the domestic bestseller list for 2024 (assuming current predictions remain accurate). Despite collegiate basketball not generating as much hype, it doesn’t require massive popularity to be successful.

Previously, both Electronic Arts (EA) and 2K Games attributed poor sales as the main reason for closing down their college basketball game franchises. For years, they competed in a market smaller than that of their NBA-based titles. If they decide to return, this small market would again be a significant challenge. However, times have changed, with the NBA 2K series gaining immense popularity since then. In contrast, EA’s NBA Live experienced two cancellations and has been quiet since the development of NBA Live 20 halted. Take-Two Interactive would undoubtedly have an advantage in terms of brand recognition in this new era, and might use the foundation of 2K as a starting point; EA, however, would be starting from scratch.

It’s undeniable that whoever makes the move, a college basketball game remains quite distant. The new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules for student-athletes mean they’d receive compensation for participating in a game, which EA has some familiarity with through CFB 25. However, NCAA basketball presents a unique challenge since it involves 364 Division I teams – almost twice the number they dealt with in the FBS subdivision of college football. This means more effort and more athletes to take care of financially.

In NCAA Basketball, a team can have a maximum of fifteen players on their roster. Compared to the 120 players per roster permitted in football, this is a relatively small number. However, when you factor in multiple schools, the logos, uniforms, stadiums, and other related aspects, it becomes quite an extensive endeavor, regardless of how you choose to divide the workload.

At long last, it’s been years since college basketball gamers have received positive news like this. The last collegiate basketball cover athlete was Blake Griffin from Oklahoma. Since then, he’s transformed from a rookie to a superstar and now a retiree. It’s high time that we rectify this situation.

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2024-12-23 06:40