One of the most popular sports video games in the world may be getting a big boost.
Following the NCAA announcing college athletes will be able to profit off their name, image and likeness beginning today, EA Sports issued a statement Thursday saying they will “explore” adding players to its college football game.
“We are watching the recent developments regarding student-athlete name, image and likeness very closely. It’s still very early stages at this point, and we plan to explore the possibility of including players in EA SPORTS College Football,” the video game publisher announced. “For now, our development team is focused on working with our partners at CLC to ensure the game authentically showcases the great sport of college football and the more than 100 institutions signed on to be featured in our game.”
EA Sports reportedly plans to bring back its NCAA Football video game at some point in the future, most likely in 2023. The company is apparently seeking a four-year license agreement. The last edition was released in 2014, with Michigan’s Denard Robinson on the cover.
Earlier in the year, EA Sports vice president Daryl Holt spoke about the possible return of college football to the franchise.
“As we look for the momentum that we’re building on in sports, it all starts with the passion of our fans and the opportunities of what they are interested in,” Holt said. “I don’t think there’s a visit where I go outside wearing a piece of EA Sports-branded apparel that someone doesn’t go, ‘Hey, when is college football coming back?’”
With these new loosened restrictions on sponsorship deals, a big flaw of the game — having unnamed players — will perhaps be fixed soon, and college stars will be able to virtually suit up for their teams.