<a href="https://news.quantosei.com/2025/06/30/fins-steelers-swap-ramsey-fitzpatrick-in-trade/" title=”Steelers-Dolphins Shock Trade: Ramsey For Fitzpatrick”>college basketball fans, get ready to lace up your virtual sneakers! After years of anticipation and a lengthy hiatus, EA Sports is officially bringing back its beloved college basketball video game franchise. The highly anticipated return is currently slated for a 2028 release, promising a new era for virtual hoops on the hardwood.
The exciting news follows the tremendous success of EA’s revived college football series, College Football 25, which made a triumphant return last summer. That football game’s performance clearly paved the way for a basketball counterpart, confirming fan demand for authentic collegiate sports simulations.
The Road to Revival: A Look Behind the Scenes
Getting a college basketball game back on consoles wasn’t a simple slam dunk. The confirmation arrived via a memo obtained by college sports reporter Matt Brown, originally sent from the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) to college conference offices. This memo, dated July 26, 2025, revealed a structured process that began much earlier.
According to the CLC document, a formal Request For Proposal (RFP) was issued in November 2024 to game developers interested in creating a new college basketball title. Five companies expressed interest, and three ultimately submitted formal bids for the project. The CLC memo specifically recommended accepting the proposal put forth by EA Sports. EA’s winning bid outlined a plan for the initial game in the revived series to debut in 2028.
EA Sports themselves added fuel to the fire with a social media tease on June 30, 2025. Their official Twitter/X account posted, “Bring the Madness. Let’s run it back. #CBB #ItsInTheGame,” signaling the game’s imminent return to their lineup.
Why Now? The NIL Revolution Changes Everything
A key factor enabling the return of both college football and college basketball video games is the dramatic shift in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) landscape. For years, the inability to compensate college athletes for using their likeness was a major legal hurdle that led to the discontinuation of these popular games.
The original EA Sports college basketball series stopped production after the NCAA Basketball 09 title in 2009 (though 2K Sports’ series ended slightly earlier in 2008). This pause occurred partly due to declining sales compared to the football series but was ultimately overshadowed by legal challenges like the Ed O’Bannon lawsuit concerning athlete compensation. At the time, EA stated willingness to pay athletes, but NCAA rules prevented it.
Now, with current NIL policies and universities adapting to new revenue-sharing models, players can be compensated. This change removes the primary barrier that existed during the prior generation of college athletics video games. EA Sports reportedly plans to handle player compensation through OneTeam Partners, mirroring the approach used for College Football 25.
What to Expect from EA Sports College Basketball
While details are still developing, the vision for the new game appears ambitious. Similar to the expansive nature of the returning football game, expect the basketball title to be incredibly in-depth.
A significant enhancement confirmed by sources is the planned inclusion of both men’s and women’s college basketball teams. EA Sports reportedly committed to including all NCAA Division I men’s and women’s programs willing to opt-in. If all eligible teams participate, this could mean representing up to 730 teams within the game. Schools have a deadline of July 18 to approve their inclusion.
The naming convention is also expected to align with the new football title. The game is likely to be called “EA Sports College Basketball,” dropping the “NCAA” acronym from the main title, although the NCAA will still be a licensing partner.
The Development Timeline and Future Outlook
The target release year of 2028 means fans face a wait of over three years from the effective announcement date in mid-2025. This mirrors the lengthy development cycle experienced by the college football title, which was announced in 2021 but released in 2024 (a year later than initially projected).
This extended timeline is necessary because creating a comprehensive simulation game from scratch is a massive undertaking. It requires extensive asset creation, including building virtual versions of hundreds of unique arenas, capturing thousands of jersey designs, trophies, mascots, and much more for potentially over 700 teams.
The proposal accepted by the CLC outlines a six-year agreement. Under this deal, EA Sports plans to release at least three separate college basketball titles. In years without a full new release, teams and rosters would likely be updated via downloadable patches. Royalty distribution to schools is anticipated to be based on how frequently their teams are selected and used by players within the game, following the model established by the football title.
The success of College Football 25, which became the highest-selling sports video game based on total dollars after its return, clearly demonstrated the market appetite. This success not only spurred the push for a basketball game but also opens the door for potential video games featuring other college sports in the future, especially with the NIL framework in place. Sports like baseball are already being discussed as possibilities.
While EA Sports takes the lead, it’s worth noting that competitor 2K Sports has also hinted at potential activity in the college basketball gaming space, suggesting possible competition down the road.
The return of EA Sports College Basketball marks the end of a nearly two-decade drought for fans. The journey to 2028 will be closely watched, filled with anticipation for gameplay details, featured teams, and how the new NIL-driven era will shape the virtual college hardwood experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the EA Sports college basketball game returning after a long break?
The return is primarily driven by two factors: the immense success of EA Sports’ revived college football game and the evolving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) landscape. The ability to now compensate college athletes for their inclusion removes the main legal obstacle that led to the game’s discontinuation over a decade ago. The strong market performance of the college football title also demonstrated significant fan demand for collegiate sports simulations.
What schools and players will be featured in the new game?
The plan is for the game to include both men’s and women’s NCAA Division I college basketball teams. EA Sports reportedly committed to including all D1 programs that choose to opt-in to the game. If all teams participate, this could potentially feature up to 730 schools. Individual players will likely be included and compensated via NIL payments managed through a partner like OneTeam Partners, similar to the college football game. Schools have a deadline of July 18 to approve their inclusion.
Why is the release date set for 2028, and what happens after that?
The 2028 target release date allows sufficient time for the extensive development process required to build a comprehensive game from the ground up. This includes creating detailed virtual assets like stadiums, jerseys, and player models for potentially hundreds of teams. This timeline is comparable to the delay between the announcement (2021) and release (2024) of the college football game. The agreement with the CLC is for six years and includes plans for at least three game releases, with roster updates provided via patches in years without a new title.
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