NCAA Football 14 is going to be the last in the series as the NCAA has pulled out of making more of these games with EA. NCAA cites their own legal problems, and frankly it's a lot to go through, so let's unravel this one step at a time.
Last year, EA settled a lawsuit dating as far back as 2008 alleging anticompetitive practices in securing exclusive contracts to make both NFL and NCAA football games. In the fallout of that lawsuit, EA agreed to drop their exclusive contract with NCAA. This did not stop them from continuing to make NCAA games in the future, but it would also allow other game companies to license with the NCAA.
However, the NCAA has been hit with its own antitrust lawsuit, this time involving both the NCAA football games and the defunct NCAA basketball games made by EA. The suit alleges that EA used likenesses of several NCAA players without their permission. The 14 plaintiffs claim that they were given contracts while still in school that made them give up their rights to their likenesses in perpetuity.
Coincidentally, NCAA's contact with EA ended on the 14th. In a press release, the NCAA claims they have decided not to renew the contract based on the costs of litigation for this current suit, as well as the current business climate. They also insist that they never licensed the likenesses for any athletes, who will have to negotiate appearances in any future games with game companies separately.
EA has since come out to confirm plans to continue making college football games. They are working with the Collegiate Licensing Company so that they will be able to use college teams and leagues for their future games, in a new series tentatively and simply titld "College Football".
Screenshot is from NCAA Football 14.
Source: Polygon
