EA Sports college basketball games are returning after two long decades – the 2028 launch has been officially confirmed, reigniting excitement for a franchise that has been on the bench since 2009.
College Basketball Game 2028
On Monday, EA Sports broke the news about the upcoming basketball video game series in a social media post. A report from Extra Point was the first to reveal the game’s development, which appeared right before EA Sports’ announcement.
According to the documents reviewed by the newsletter, the CLC had advised selecting EA’s proposal over those of competing developers. The Collegiate Licensing Company, which manages the school licenses, issued an RFP to game developers in November 2024. EA Sports accepted the proposal and emphasised that the game will feature both men’s and women’s Division I teams, as long as the teams agree to be included.
What to expect?
The game is likely to follow the success of EA Sports College Football 25. Similarly to the best-seller, College Basketball Game 25 will feature Road to Glory, Team Builder, Dynasty Mode and Ultimate Team. Additionally, the game will incorporate NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) elements reflecting current college sports trends and allowing players to engage.
The plan is straightforward: to develop at least three games consecutively. It’s worth noting that there was a gap of more than ten years between college football video games, and the same goes for college basketball. However, it seems the wait will be over in just three years.
EA vs 2K: history and challenges
The legacy of college basketball video games has been shaped primarily by two major players: EA Sports and 2K Sports. EA was the dominant force for many years with its NCAA Basketball series, which garnered a dedicated fanbase thanks to its authentic gameplay and presentation. Football and basketball video games have always been closely connected.
However, the sports game market faced significant challenges: the release of the football series was cancelled after an NCAA lawsuit in 2013. Ed O’Bannon, a former basketball player, sued over the use of his name, image, and likeness – he had appeared in NCAA Basketball ‘09. The NCAA didn’t agree to pay the players, although EA Sports said that they were ready to do so.
2K Sports primarily focused on its franchise, maintaining a distance from the college basketball market, as demand for basketball games was relatively low compared to football titles, whose sales were nearly three times higher. However, growing demand for basketball titles has brought new attention to the genre.
The success of College Football 25 has inspired talks of a potential revival. 2K’s reaction has been cautiously optimistic, with hints at entering the college basketball space to capitalize on renewed market interest. This has set the stage for a potential rivalry with EA, as both companies could compete to capture the audience.