By Sagar V. Mankar 
After the successful revival of EA Sports College Football 25 this year, which ended a decade-long hiatus since NCAA Football 14, reports suggest another classic sports gaming franchise might be making a comeback. According to Mike Straw from Insider Gaming, both EA Sports and 2K have held internal discussions about developing a new college basketball video game.
A Long Wait Since NCAA Basketball 10
The college basketball franchise began with NCAA March Madness 98. The last title from EA Sports was NCAA Basketball 10, released in 2009 with former Oklahoma Sooners forward Blake Griffin on the cover. Before that,
Since then, fans have eagerly awaited the return of college basketball gaming, but legal hurdles halted development. EA Sports stopped creating college sports games after lawsuits arose over the use of players’ names, images, and likenesses (NIL). However, with the NIL policy becoming official in July 2021, players can now profit from their names and images, opening the door for a potential return of these beloved franchises.
Are EA and 2K Working Together?
Mike Straw reported that both EA Sports and 2K are exploring their own separate college basketball titles, not collaborating on a single game. “Multiple sources have told me that both EA and Take-Two (2K) have had continued internal conversations about a college basketball game. Unknown how far along talks are, but there are groups within both companies pushing heavily for it,” Straw shared.
While no concrete timelines or details have been revealed, the mere possibility of competing titles from EA and 2K is enough to excite fans. Such competition could lead to innovation and high-quality games from both developers.
The success of College Football 25 Fuels Hope
The recent success of EA Sports College Football 25 has undoubtedly sparked interest in revisiting other college sports titles. The football game received positive reviews, with its in-depth modes like Dynasty and Road to Glory setting a new benchmark for sports gaming experiences. In less than a month, it became the top seller of the year, and by surpassing NBA 2K21 it became the best sports title in U.S. history.
If the momentum continues, a college basketball revival might not be too far behind. For now, fans can only wait and hope for an official announcement from either EA Sports or 2K.
Source: Insider Gaming