EA Sports College Basketball 2028

[Creeker]

This maybe could have gone in the college football game thread for now, but anyway. It looks like we are heading towards a college basketball game made by EA in 2028-2029.

If anyone remembers Matt Brown, he’s a writer who was getting all the early information on EA Sports College Football 25 through open records requests before the game dropped. He’s just released an update about college basketball in his newsletter.

It appears with the success of college football 25, EA is in the works for a College Basketball game that would drop in 2028. Don’t want to quote his whole newsletter since it’s paid, but here’s the important bit which is also included in the free preview of the letter:

​

In a memo sent to college conference offices from the College Licensing Company (CLC), dated June 26, 2025, CLC put out a request for proposal (RFP) to create a college basketball video game in November 2024. According to the memo, five companies expressed formal interest, and three filed formal bids.​

The CLC memo recommends that the conferences accept the proposal made by EA Sports to bring back EA Sports College Basketball. This proposal states a plan for EA Sports to release the first game in 2028.​

 

[Hoosier_Vol]

Man, I hope so!!!

 

[Creeker]

Looks like EA must have got the approval too.

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

I hope EA makes it, never thought I'd say that. NBA 2k has gone to complete and utter dog **** the last few years.

 

[TNHopeful505]

I really loved the college basketball games of old. Big challenge though. Lots of schools, unis, arenas, traditions....its gonna take them a while getting all of the stuff together. But it'll be great.

 

[Creeker]

I really loved the college basketball games of old. Big challenge though. Lots of schools, unis, arenas, traditions....its gonna take them a while getting all of the stuff together. But it'll be great.

And they will be making both men’s and women’s teams, I’d say 2029 is the earliest and possibly pushed back a year the way CFB was, so potentially 2030 before we see it.

 

[TNHopeful505]

And they will be making both men’s and women’s teams, I’d say 2029 is the earliest and possibly pushed back a year the way CFB was, so potentially 2030 before we see it.

I don't know. At least now they have the systems in place to get the information they need. They already have the fight songs and fans created for schools that have football. Basketball has fewer players but more teams, especially if you start going D-II. Didnt think about women's, but yeah they'll do that

 

[Creeker]

A few details about EA’s bid gave some information about the game:

1. 5 total companies expressed interested in requesting a proposal
2. Three total companies submitted official bids one of three is expected to be 2k.
3. EA was the only company to submit a bid to create a standalone game that included both men’s and women’s teams for all D1 basketball teams. One other proposal mentioned including college basketball content (likely 2k) and one that created an “action” game and not simulation basketball (unknown third company.)
4. EA’s bid includes using real athletes and paying a licensing fee in a similar structure to the college football game.
5. EA’s bid includes modes to be included with the game which were: Dynasty, Ultimate Team and Road to Glory. Team Builder was also mentioned as being included.
6. EA will include downloadable/live service content including post launch content and experiences and the option for DLC
7. Revenue for schools would be shared in the same format as college football 26, the more users that use a team, the more revenue they get.
8. EA proposed a 6 year deal, with a minimum of 3 games and a maximum of 6 games, however included that if there were years a new game was not released, their would be updates to the teams and players released for the following season.
9. EA is looking to obtain licensing from the NCAA for college basketball, unlike the college football game, as the NCAA has many licenses around March Madness.

 

[Vol423]

I really loved the college basketball games of old. Big challenge though. Lots of schools, unis, arenas, traditions....its gonna take them a while getting all of the stuff together. But it'll be great.

I would think this type of thing would be a really good use-case for AI.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

A few details about EA’s bid gave some information about the game:

1. 5 total companies expressed interested in requesting a proposal
2. Three total companies submitted official bids one of three is expected to be 2k.
3. EA was the only company to submit a bid to create a standalone game that included both men’s and women’s teams for all D1 basketball teams. One other proposal mentioned including college basketball content (likely 2k) and one that created an “action” game and not simulation basketball (unknown third company.)
4. EA’s bid includes using real athletes and paying a licensing fee in a similar structure to the college football game.
5. EA’s bid includes modes to be included with the game which were: Dynasty, Ultimate Team and Road to Glory. Team Builder was also mentioned as being included.
6. EA will include downloadable/live service content including post launch content and experiences and the option for DLC
7. Revenue for schools would be shared in the same format as college football 26, the more users that use a team, the more revenue they get.
8. EA proposed a 6 year deal, with a minimum of 3 games and a maximum of 6 games, however included that if there were years a new game was not released, their would be updates to the teams and players released for the following season.
9. EA is looking to obtain licensing from the NCAA for college basketball, unlike the college football game, as the NCAA has many licenses around March Madness.

Bet they go all in on ultimate team . And I bet they give Caitlin Clark a lot of $$

 

[Persian Vol]

I hope EA makes it, never thought I'd say that. NBA 2k has gone to complete and utter dog **** the last few years.

College hoops 2k9 >>> any of the ncaa basketball games from EA.

 

[UTK]

College hoops 2k9 >>> any of the ncaa basketball games from EA.

While this is very true, it’s also true that modern 2K sports games suck as much as EA. So I doesn’t really matter I guess

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

They announced today they aren't making 2k26 for old gen. Hopefully this means some serious changes are coming. **** is unplayable.

 

[Persian Vol]

While this is very true, it’s also true that modern 2K sports games suck as much as EA. So I doesn’t really matter I guess

I haven’t played either in a while but I always felt that 2k had a richer career mode still.

 

[Creeker]

Since the CLC recommendation to accept EAs offers, 2K has broken their NDA and contacted a handful of schools asking them to delay the acceptance of the EA proposal.

Since the NDA was broken the CLC released the details of the 2K proposal. 2K proposed starting in 2028 adding a DLC that would be tied to “My Team” that would allow a tournament with college teams. The first year would feature 8 teams, then 16 the following year and 32 the year after that. They would explore the option of a stand alone college game as early as 2030 if certain conditions were met, such as 3 million in DLC sales and 50% DLC purchase rate among users.

 

[Ttucke11]

Since the CLC recommendation to accept EAs offers, 2K has broken their NDA and contacted a handful of schools asking them to delay the acceptance of the EA proposal.

Since the NDA was broken the CLC released the details of the 2K proposal. 2K proposed starting in 2028 adding a DLC that would be tied to “My Team” that would allow a tournament with college teams. The first year would feature 8 teams, then 16 the following year and 32 the year after that. They would explore the option of a stand alone college game as early as 2030 if certain conditions were met, such as 3 million in DLC sales and 50% DLC purchase rate among users.

That sounds disgusting. Rooting for EA for once.

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

Since the CLC recommendation to accept EAs offers, 2K has broken their NDA and contacted a handful of schools asking them to delay the acceptance of the EA proposal.

Since the NDA was broken the CLC released the details of the 2K proposal. 2K proposed starting in 2028 adding a DLC that would be tied to “My Team” that would allow a tournament with college teams. The first year would feature 8 teams, then 16 the following year and 32 the year after that. They would explore the option of a stand alone college game as early as 2030 if certain conditions were met, such as 3 million in DLC sales and 50% DLC purchase rate among users.

Yep sounds like 2k. MyTeam is 100% pay to win. All they care about is micro transactions.