There might not be a new EA Sports college basketball game after all. A new report states that the company is notifying universities and conferences that it won’t be moving forward with plans for the sports title, as apparently some schools have accepted offers for a 2K Sports College Hoops proposal.
Extra Points reports that EA Sports vice president of commercial partnerships and licensing Sean O’Brien has sent out a letter stating that the company “is disappointed that we all couldn’t find an acceptable path forward.” In June, EA announced the return of NCAA Basketball, 16 years after the previous entry in the series. O’Brien noted 2K Sports as a reason why the revival isn’t happening.
“Given there are some schools choosing to accept the 2K Sports proposal for inclusion in NBA 2K, the offer to be included in a college basketball video game will unfortunately have to be rescinded,” O’Brien wrote. The Athletic reported that EA’s offer required exclusive rights and was recommended by the Collegiate Licensing Company because it encompassed 730 teams (for men and women).
There has been conflicting info about whether 2K will add college teams to the NBA 2K franchise or make a separate game–or possibly start with DLC and then adapt. In July, a report surfaced that noted 2K Sports was planning a standalone College Hoops 2K title. Other details included the company reaching out to major schools like Michigan St. and UCLA, with plans to feature 100 men’s and women’s programs. Meanwhile, EA CEO Andrew Wilson previously proclaimed he wanted “all 350 programs” for its college basketball game.
EA last released a college basketball game with NCAA Basketball 10 in 2009, while College Hoops 2K8 was the last entry in that series in 2007.
Just last week, O’Brien noted that EA’s college basketball game was nowhere near release. The executive also said the company was “up for the challenge” while also acknowledging the project as a “daunting task.”
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