EA has officially confirmed in their company blog that they will not be able to make a new NCAA football game next year, and are currently in the process of evaluating what steps they will take next.
We have been covering developments behind the scenes in this story for some time. This all started when NCAA and EA were sued by several college athletes, who alleged that their likenesses were used in EA’s games without proper permission. NCAA used this as grounds for not renewing their contract with EA, and subsequently, both companies lost the case.
EA cited new agreements with the Collegiate Licensing Company that should have helped them acquire new franchises to use in their games. However, the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten and Pacific 12 all joined NCAA in confirming that they would not be licensing their trademarks to EA for their games.
In the blog post, EA Sports General Manager for American Football Cam Weber acknowledges that they have been left in a difficult position, which makes it difficult for them to deliver an authentic football video game experience.
For the moment, they pledge continued support for NCAA 14, and they say they are working to keep the people in the EA Sports American Football division by giving them other positions.
It is never good news when companies have to make announcements like this, and hopefully they will not have to follow up with news of layoffs. It is also a blow to football video game fans who will not be able to look forward to college football games in the near future.
Image is from NCAA 14.
Source: EA
