EA Sports announced Monday it will release a new college basketball video game in 2028, marking the company’s return to the sport after what will be a 19-year absence.
The announcement, revealed through a College Licensing Company (CLC) memo to conference offices, raises questions about whether the gaming landscape has changed enough since NCAA Basketball 10’s commercial disappointment to ensure success this time around.
When Was the Last EA Sports College Basketball Game Released?
NCAA Basketball 10 hit shelves in November 2009 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, ending a series that began in 1998 as “March Madness.” The game featured Blake Griffin, then Oklahoma’s star forward, on its cover during his standout sophomore season.
EA did its job by bringing back the College Football video game.
Now it’s time to bring back a College Basketball video game. Someone make it happen. pic.twitter.com/IPZzOaCLOd
— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) May 17, 2024
The game earned widespread recognition for its audiovisual innovations, particularly through partnerships with CBS and ESPN. Commentary from college basketball icons Gus Johnson, Bill Raftery, Dick Vitale, and Brad Nessler created an immersive broadcast experience that was revolutionary for its time.
NCAA Basketball 10 also excelled in gameplay mechanics. Players could run authentic offensive systems like the Princeton Offense or Dribble Drive, while enhanced animations and artificial intelligence represented significant technological advances for 2009.
The development team aimed to capture Division I basketball’s essence by including 325 teams and featuring real-time RPI rankings. Players could track weekly statistics and experience the sport’s competitive depth.
It’s been 15 years since a College Basketball video game was last released.
Here are what the graphics looked like in NCAA Basketball 10. pic.twitter.com/y0fAUZOHwu
— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) May 17, 2024
Fans enthusiastically praised the game, particularly its authentic stadium atmospheres and faithful representation of college basketball’s unique style. Critics highlighted how the game captured the sport’s energy and traditions.
Despite critical acclaim and devoted fans, NCAA Basketball 10 failed to meet financial expectations. More significantly, legal challenges over using players’ likenesses without compensation ultimately forced EA Sports to discontinue the series.
The shutdown stemmed from the landmark O’Bannon v. NCAA lawsuit, filed by former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon in 2009. In it, O’Bannon challenged the NCAA’s use of player likenesses in video games without compensation, arguing that it violated antitrust laws.
EA Sports settled with affected players for $40 million, while the broader case continued to reshape college athletics.
Since then, the college sports landscape has transformed dramatically. NIL rules now allow athletes to profit from their personal brands, while the recent House v. NCAA settlement permits schools to share revenue directly with players starting tomorrow, Tuesday, July 1.
These changes cleared legal obstacles that previously made college sports video games impossible. EA Sports capitalized on this new environment with College Football 25’s successful return in July 2024, generating record-breaking sales and proving the market’s appetite for college sports games.
According to the CLC memo, the company won a competitive bidding process to produce the new basketball game, beating out two other formal bids. This renewed interest in college sports gaming follows the football game’s commercial success and reflects confidence that compensating athletes eliminates the legal risks that killed the franchise 16 years ago.
With three years until release, EA Sports has time to build on College Football 25’s foundation while adapting to basketball’s unique demands.
The return of college basketball gaming represents both a nostalgic callback for longtime fans and an opportunity to introduce the sport’s digital version to a new generation of players who never experienced the original series.
