EA Sports College Football is set to make a comeback in Summer 2024, maintaining its release schedule despite recent legal challenges regarding the use of college players’ likenesses. This anticipated return marks a significant moment for fans of college football video games, following a prolonged hiatus since 2013.
Settlement Paves the Way for 2024 Release
The BrandR Group and OneTeam Partners have reached a settlement agreement in a lawsuit regarding EA Sports.
From EA spokesperson: “We’re pleased to move on from these claims and look forward to delivering EA SPORTS College Football in Summer 2024.”https://t.co/6hHq5KvCP5 pic.twitter.com/OD6wbRHKUJ
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) November 30, 2023
The path to the game’s release encountered a legal obstacle when The BrandR Group filed a lawsuit last June, challenging the compensation offered to student-athletes for using their likenesses in the game.
On3, a sports business outlet, reported that the proposed payout for athletes opting to have their likeness in the game was $500 per player, a figure BrandR argued was below market value.
However, a recent settlement agreement between EA Sports, OneTeamPartners, and The BrandR Group has resolved the dispute amicably. Both agencies acknowledged the settlement of their past dispute related to college group licensing.
An EA spokesperson, in a statement to IGN, expressed satisfaction over the withdrawal of the claims without any payment from EA and emphasized that the lawsuit had no merit.
EA Sports’ focus remains on licensing individual college athlete names and likenesses through an opt-in program, allowing athletes to choose if they want to be part of the game.
The Road to Revival
The announcement of a new college football video game by EA came in 2021, in partnership with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC). This followed the Supreme Court ruling allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
EA then declared its intention to incorporate real-world NCAA players into the game, a significant shift from its previous stance of making a college football game without real players.
In an interview with ESPN last year, EA revealed that EA Sports College Football would feature returning elements like Dynasty Mode and Road to Glory, along with the inclusion of real-world college football players.
EA Sports College Football’s 2024 release will end a nearly decade-long absence of college football video games. The series was previously discontinued in 2013 following the loss of the NCAA license and a class-action lawsuit by former college athletes over the unauthorized use of their likenesses.
This lawsuit was settled in 2016 for $60 million. The upcoming release, therefore, marks a significant resurgence for the franchise and is eagerly anticipated by fans of college football gaming.
