In a surprising turn of events, EA Sports has announced its plans to revive its NCAA Basketball video game series, which will reportedly feature women’s college basketball teams for the very first time. This decision marks a significant comeback for a franchise that has been dormant since the late 2000s due to disappointing sales and legal issues.
EA Sports had ceased its production of college basketball games after their previous titles failed to resonate with fans. Similarly, their college football series was put on hold in 2014 amidst various legal challenges. However, following the successful re-release of the NCAA Football title last summer, the company is eager to dive back into the basketball arena.
According to reports, the new NCAA Basketball game is expected to be available in 2028 and will include well-known women’s teams, marking a pioneering step in women’s representation in sports gaming. EA took to social media to express their excitement, posting “Bring the Madness” and inviting fans to anticipate this fresh venture.
This move aligns with the growing trend of increasing visibility for women’s athletes in video games. Recently, EA Sports introduced female soccer athletes into their popular Ultimate Team mode. Additionally, Take-Two Interactive has successfully included WNBA players in their basketball offerings. Historically, though, college women’s basketball has never been part of major console game offerings.
Prior to this announcement, EA had not made basketball games since the decline of its once-popular NBA Live series. Unlike the past, this new iteration is likely to feature actual player names and likenesses, a change from earlier titles that only employed player numbers and generic images. Notably, this switch stems from previous legal challenges like the one initiated by former UCLA star Ed O’Bannon for improper use of player likenesses.
Moreover, EA’s latest college football games have seen them compensating players for their participation, signifying a shift towards respecting players’ NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rights, which is expected to be reflected in the upcoming basketball title as well.
This announcement comes as part of EA Sports’ broader strategy to refresh its sports gaming lineup, which also includes the return of the Skate series, placing them in direct competition with other popular sports game franchises.
Fans are eagerly awaiting more details as this announcement creates a buzz in the gaming community. The return of the NCAA Basketball game holds excitement for many, especially the inclusion of women’s teams, making it a progressive step for representation and engagement in sports video games.
