2K on Tuesday announces an exclusive deal with NFL said as a “multi-year partnership” that covers “multiple future video games”. For 15 years, EA sports’ Madden has been the king of simulation football games, the last competition being the NFL 2K released in 2004 hailed as the one of the best football games before EA signed an exclusivity deal with NFL, discontinuing any further games from 2K.
The deal’s details are very vague but we know that 2K signed a contract for ‘non-simulation football game experiences,’ so it is going to be difficult for them to revive the fan loved NFL 2K. Though the distinction between simulation games and non-simulation games is unclear maybe 2K will be able to exploit the contract and create a game in direct competition to Madden.
The projects are described to be in their early stages with a first release set to be in early 2021. The game is told to be ‘ centred on fun, approachable and social experiences.’
So what happens to EA and Madden?
From the initial assessment of the deal for non-simulation and statements by EA creators, it seems that nothing will be changing.
Just in: @EASPORTS reacts to renewed @NFL/@2K partnership pic.twitter.com/546m1OFZUx
— Tom Barrabi (@TBarrabi) March 10, 2020
The contract is set to end after the completion of 2021 NFL season, so we are likely to see Madden NFL 2021. And EA sports is confident that the deal for ‘simulation football games’ will remain intact despite the implication that the lucrative king of football games will have a competition in simulation football games after 15 years.
Now it is up to 2K to maybe even deliver a new experience in terms of football games as it definitely will grab the opportunity for ‘simulation football games’ as soon as EA and NFL’s contract expires.
