- EA Sports teased the return of its college basketball video game franchise after a 15-year hiatus.
- Legal challenges over player likenesses led to the discontinuation of the series in 2010.
- The introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals paved the way for the game’s revival.
- Players are likely to receive compensation for appearing in the game, similar to the model used for EA’s college football game.
EA Sports teases the return of College Basketball to the video game world.
On June 30, EA Sports X account posted: “Bring the Madness. Let’s run it back. #CBB #ItsInTheGame.” The post was attached with a basketball hinting the return of the game.
The last college basketball game produced was “NCAA Basketball 10.” The game had Blake Griffin as the cover when he attended Oklahoma. After 15 years, it looks like the game will be returning.
Why did EA Sports stop making a college basketball game?
In 2009, UCLA basketball player Ed O’ Bannon sued EA Sports, NCAA and Collegiate Licensing Company over their use of former players’ images in DVDs, video games, photographs, apparel and other material. O’ Barron was joined by eleven former college football and basketball players in the lawsuit.
The mission was to seek damages for former players, largely from video games. The plaintiffs also wanted to change how current athletes are compensated and add live television money to the equation. Roger Noll, a Stanford economics professor, suggested a 50-50 split in TV revenue for players and a one-third split for video games.
The case saw a full stop in the production of the college basketball game and in 2014, a stop in production of the college football game.
Although after Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) deals started to come in the collegiate sports field, the game have been able to return to video game consoles.
History of EA Sports’ NCAA Basketball
The first release of a college basketball game by EA Sports was NCAA March Madness 98. The game would be produced yearly. EA would keep the March Madness name until 2009 when they changed it to NCAA Basketball 09.
The college basketball game was graced with numerous college basketball stars on its cover. Notable names such as Carmelo Anthony at Syracuse, Tim Duncan at Wake Forest, Kenyon Martin at Cincinatti and Kevin Durant at Texas were cover athletes for the video game franchise.
Will college basketball players be paid in this game?
College football athletes were given $600 and a copy of College Football 25 for opting-in to be in the game. The same can be expected for a new college basketball game as both would be made by Electronic Arts.
