There are few things college football fans have been clamoring for more than a new edition of EA Sports’ NCAA Football video game, which was discontinued in 2013 following the Ed O’Bannon lawsuit against the NCAA. As issues over the name, likeness, and licensing involving student-athletes became a hot button issue, no one wanted to jump back into the fray until that was more defined. There were some false alarms along the way but we’ve never gotten a definitive date on when we might be able to re-enter Dynasty Mode once more.
That changed Thursday when Brandon Marcello reported that EA Sports plans to launch a new college football video game in summer 2023.
EA Sports is aiming to launch its new college football video game in the summer of 2023. "That's the hope," says Cory Moss, CEO of Collegiate Licensing Co. #CFB #EASports pic.twitter.com/oQToo4Tfz9
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 9, 2021
Other than the date, we don’t have a lot of information to work with about the game itself. Famous for giving the player the chance to recruit, build programs, and integrate off-field activities into the experience, we don’t yet know how modern facets of college football will be incorporated. Will NIL arrangements be part of the gameplay? Will it include actual player names? What about the transfer portal? Sports gambling is legal in many states, will that be involved?
The already complicated world of college football has gotten even more complex since the last time EA Sports had to account for realistic dynasty mode options. Here’s what EA Sports had to say about all of this in a statement this past summer.
“We are watching the recent developments regarding student-athlete name, image and likeness very closely,” EA Sports said via statement. “It’s still very early stages at this point, and we plan to explore the possibility of including players in EA SPORTS College Football. For now, our development team is focused on working with our partners at CLC to ensure the game authentically showcases the great sport of college football and the more than 100 institutions signed on to be featured in our game.”
But these are also issues and questions for another day. Today, college football fans reacted with excitement over the news, as well as concerns about how long it’s going to take before summer 2023 gets here.
But can we import our teams that have played decades of seasons in NCAA 2014? 🤔 https://t.co/z9I78sg6s9
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 9, 2021
If they release it on the 2nd Tuesday in July like before, that means we are 578 days away. We can do this https://t.co/6ZQ0MzY5mQ
— Patrick Simpson (@_PatrickSimpson) December 9, 2021
I have been playing NCAA 14 for 8 years. I can do 18 more months. https://t.co/QHWDCFDeFx
— Christian Simmons (@ByCASimmons) December 9, 2021
Need ‘em to include the FCS teams again this time around so we don’t have to use teambuilder to make them… https://t.co/zAGSq7YZTr
— Khari A Thompson (@_KhariThompson) December 9, 2021
https://t.co/KUSkJofmgp pic.twitter.com/Knzhn0BpWd
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) December 9, 2021
Start the countdown https://t.co/xbcIhNflHL
— Justin Frommer (@JustinbFrommer) December 9, 2021
No pressure EA but everyone is counting on you.
For more information about what EA Sports needs to consider when creating this game, Matt Brown has a great rundown.
NEW EXTRA POINTS:
I've obtained a copy of the proposal the CLC sent to FBS institutions about the EA Sports video game.
When is the game projected to come out?
Will users be able to edit rosters?
What school assets will EA need to scan?
More here:https://t.co/62cUhNaniK
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) March 11, 2021
Back in 2016, Kirk Herbstreit said he’d appear in the game for free if it meant we could have it back. Let’s find out if he’s going to keep his word on that…
