Electronic Arts is seemingly giving up on its plans to develop a new college basketball game and letting 2K Sports make one instead, according to a leaked email obtained by Extra Points.
A little background: In June, EA Sports teased online that it was developing a new college basketball game, which would have been the first from EA since 2009’s NCAA Basketball 10. So a lot of fans were excited about the news. However, there was a problem. 2K also had video game plans that involved college basketball teams and players. Unlike EA’s plan to develop a whole video game, 2K wants to create college basketball DLC for NBA 2K and/or a new mode in the game as a way of testing the waters for a full, standalone release later. And despite the College Licensing Company asking schools to sign EA’s deal, it was reported last month that many Division 1 schools were taking 2K’s deal instead. As a result, EA is taking its digital ball and leaving.
As reported by Extra Points on September 4, a leaked email from EA Sports VP of commercial licensing Sean O’Brien to multiple college licensing directors seems to indicate that the publisher is giving up on its plans. In the email, O’Brien wished the schools “good luck” while expressing that everyone at EA was “disappointed” that “some schools” were “choosing to accept” 2K’s deal. Here’s the full email:
Hi…I hope you had a great Labor Day weekend.
Given there are some schools choosing to accept the 2K Sports proposal for inclusion in NBA 2K, the offer to be included in a college basketball video game will unfortunately have to be rescinded.
Everyone at EA SPORTS is disappointed that we all couldn’t find an acceptable path forward, but we appreciate your support in trying to bring a stand-alone college basketball game with all men’s and women’s Division 1 institutions and student athletes, conferences as well as the NCAA, in a way that fans have told us they want. We really appreciate your support.
Good luck with back to school and an exciting start to the football season.
Thanks
Sean O’Brien
VP Commercial Partnerships & Licensing
EA SPORTS
Of course, it’s also possible that EA Sports purposely leaked this email to Extra Points in an attempt to use angry fans to pressure schools into accepting its game proposal. “See,” EA can say. “Blame 2K and the colleges for not letting us make a whole new game. Enjoy your DLC instead.” That’s pure speculation, but even if that wasn’t the plan, it’s likely that fans hoping for a new college basketball game in the future aren’t going to be happy that EA is giving up, while 2K is reportedly just doing DLC for NBA 2K.
Is this wild saga over? Will EA actually make a college basketball game after all? Will 2K get bullied into changing its plans? Who can say? But considering how well EA’s College Football 25 game sold last year and how much money a college basketball game could make, I imagine we haven’t seen the end of this.
