Feb 2, 2021

  • Michael Rothstein

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    Michael Rothstein

    ESPN Staff Writer

    • Previously covered University of Michigan for ESPN.com and AnnArbor.com
    • Also covered Notre Dame for Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

  • Dan Murphy

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    Dan Murphy

    ESPN Staff Writer

    • Covers the Big Ten
    • Joined ESPN.com in 2014
    • Graduate of the University of Notre Dame

EA Sports is rebooting its higher football series for Next Generation consoles, announcing Tuesday that it will terminate the hiatus the game has taken since and so-Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson appeared on the cover of NCAA Football 14.

At that place'south still a lot to sort out nigh what the game will expect like, what its construction volition be and even when it will be bachelor. Just college football is (eventually) coming back to gaming consoles.

Here's what we know and what we don't.

Why is EA Sports bringing the video game back now?

Since the last edition of the game in the 2013 season, there has been discussion within EA Sports most relaunching it. At the time of its discontinuation, information technology was a very popular title, and its return remained high on the priority list at the company.

EA Sports actually dropped a few Easter eggs pointing to the possibility. In the past two editions of Madden, some college football programs were included as part of the "Face of the Franchise" story fashion of the game. EA Sports vice president and general manager Daryl Holt told ESPN that while it wasn't a conscious decision to practise that equally a test run for the return of a college football game, there was positive feedback and returns, particularly in those higher markets.

"That was some other just check mark to get -- we know [fans] are itching for information technology and we know we can develop and deliver a great college football experience," Holt said. "So why are we waiting?

"So the question may exist non then much 'why now' versus 'why non now?'"

EA Sports recently started putting together a strategy and development squad, which led to Tuesday'south announcement.

When can I play the game?

To exist adamant.

At this indicate, no one from EA Sports would commit to when the game could return or even a appointment to announce a launch date. For now, consider this news to be a commitment for the game to return at some point.

One thing is certain, though: Holt said it won't happen this yr.

What will exist in the game?

That's still unclear. It's very early in the procedure.

EA Sports is working with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) -- the licensing partner for many schools -- on securing the apply of the stadiums, uniforms, mascots, traditions and names for over 100 teams in the FBS. Holt said the game itself will be "a deep, immersive experience that has true wide-open game play for college football." What that looks like is still to be adamant and might depend on the connected technology on Adjacent Gen gaming systems PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Information technology could accept an eventual tie-in to Madden -- in prior iterations, for example, yous could import draft classes from NCAA Football into Madden. Holt said EA Sports is looking at things in terms of what is part of a football career, but the company is still in experimentation way.

Holt said EA Sports is starting with the game play, making sure that is strong, then going from there.

"Whether that's a reimagining or an evolution of things that were in the game earlier or new things and new ways to play, I don't want to get into the details of what we're already planning and what we'll put in that," Holt said. "But it will be something that our cadre fans, if they appreciated and loved NCAA 14, they will beloved this game because that's just the starting indicate."

Does the NCAA need to alter its rules before the game can return?

No. Current NCAA rules prohibit EA Sports from paying players to use their names, images and likenesses in the game. If those rules are yet in issue when the game is released, EA Sports plans to include real details such as team names, mascots and uniforms but not anything that would resemble the real players on those rosters.

EA Sports announced information technology would stop making its college football game in 2013 presently before the company agreed to pay function of a reported $40 1000000 to old college players to settle a lawsuit filed by former UCLA basketball histrion Ed O'Bannon. The lawsuit argued that information technology was illegal for EA Sports to sell a game with characters that looked strikingly similar to real athletes without paying those athletes.

While O'Bannon was sometimes mistakenly blamed for the game's demise, the company said at the time that it stopped production considering the NCAA and some conferences were no longer interested in licensing their logos and names to the game makers, which prevented them from creating an accurate feel. Those schools are again willing to partner upward with EA Sports. Holt didn't comment on why those partnerships take been revived, but he insisted at that place is zippo that currently prevents EA Sports from producing the game.

How will the electric current debate around proper name, image and likeness (Nil) rules impact the game?

While real players don't have to exist included in the new version of the game, they could be included if future legislation makes it possible for college athletes to negotiate every bit a grouping. The NCAA -- prompted past pressure from state and federal lawmakers -- is in the process of changing its rules to provide athletes some opportunities to profit from endorsements in the future. Information technology's not even so clear if those new opportunities will include the power to organize for group licensing deals.

For pro sports video games, the game maker typically negotiates with the league's union on a cost for the Zilch rights of all players. The union so makes sure each player gets a slice of the total payment. The NCAA says players shouldn't be allowed to class a union because they are students, not employees. While a traditional union isn't essential to setting upward the organisation needed for collective bargaining, NCAA leaders have so far tried to steer articulate of any kind of organization that would create a mechanism for athletes to negotiate as a group.

Simply the NCAA might non become to fix the terms of time to come NIL rules. Congress is expected to accost higher sports reform and bounty in some way in the relatively most future -- nigh likely earlier EA Sports would be ready to roll out its new game. At least two of the proposals that volition exist considered by the Senate aim to guarantee the right to collective bargaining for time to come college athletes. If either of those options is signed into law, the door would be open for EA Sports to negotiate with players to create more realistic rosters.

"We'll just keep tabs on everything every bit information technology develops, and nosotros'll be gear up," Holt said.

What will the game be called?

The name is changing. Gone is the NCAA Football series proper name. In its place will exist EA Sports College Football. That, Holt said, is the branding the company is working with and planning on using.

"It all starts really with where nosotros run into college football game equally going," Holt said. "At that place'south a lot of things happening and in that location's a lot of things happening in sports. EA Sports College Football gives us a name and a brand to kind of work around for some things that might evolve likewise as what we're focusing on really out of the gate, which is really the FBS Division I schoolhouse and the road to the Higher Football game Playoff and College Football Championship.

"And then EA Sports College Football, nosotros just felt, is the right proper noun for the product for not merely now but likewise every bit we move forward."

What else yet needs to exist adamant?

Holt said the early focus at EA Sports is on building out a team to develop the game and working on its design.

"Right now, it'south been more of a focus on the partnership with CLC, the design aspects, early innovations that we're working on that might have a long tail on them," he said. "And so building a team and pulling the team together both internally and externally to brand a swell game."