18/07/2025

EA Sports announces new college basketball game – a challenge for 2K

After nearly two decades of absence, EA Sports is planning a return to college basketball—sending a clear message to industry leader 2K. While the “NBA 2K” series has dominated the market for years, EA is bringing fresh momentum to the virtual basketball world.

A comeback with a statement

On Monday, EA released a telling teaser on social media, hinting at a new college basketball game—the first since 2009. The success of College Football 25 seems to have paved the way for another sports game comeback.

Official hints and early details

At the same time, a report appeared on Extra Points, stating that the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) recommends EA Sports as the preferred partner—over several competitors. A release is planned for 2028. The first edition is expected to include both men's and women's NCAA Division I teams.

Extensive content, clear structure

According to EA, up to 730 teams could be included in the game—provided the colleges agree by July 18. Players will receive financial compensation for the use of their names, images, and likenesses (NIL), handled via OneTeam Partners.

Gameplay will be based on the successful concept of College Football 25. Planned modes include Dynasty Mode, Team Builder, Road to Glory, and Ultimate Team. A total of at least three titles are expected over six years—with potential annual updates.

That’s plenty of content for fans—and a matter of storage space for your hardware. If you're concerned about that, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 6x3.60GHz is a great choice—with DDR4, content can be loaded and launched quickly.

Long lead time, high expectations

The long wait until the planned release is no coincidence. For College Football, there were around three years between the announcement and release. The reason is the high development effort for stadiums, jerseys, trophies, and player models. The football title launched in 2024—a year later than planned.

A turning point through football success

For a long time, college basketball was considered a niche in gaming, far behind popular football. The most successful version sold only 370,000 units—compared to over a million for football titles. After legal disputes, such as the lawsuit by former UCLA player Ed O’Bannon, EA discontinued the basketball series in 2009.

But the overwhelming success of College Football 25 changed everything. The title became EA's best-selling sports game ever and rekindled interest among colleges. Its sequel, CFB 26, is already generating high expectations ahead of release.

2K responds – new competition on the horizon

EA’s move did not go unnoticed by 2K Sports. Through the official NBA 2K channel, the competitor hinted that it is also working on a college comeback. In a statement to The Athletic, it confidently stated:
“2K is and remains the home of basketball gaming. We have a strong college legacy and are developing exciting new ways to bring schools and athletes to life virtually. Class starts soon.”
A new clash of titans is emerging—not in the NBA, but in the college sector.

The race is on

What long seemed unrealistic is becoming reality: EA Sports is returning to college basketball with an ambitious plan. With broad licensing, NIL payments, and established game modes, the studio is heading directly toward 2K—shaking up the basketball gaming landscape. Who will come out on top this time remains to be seen.

(Image source: EA)

Matching products