College sports video games have long captured the imagination of fans, but until recently, only football fans had a dedicated franchise to call their own. The EA Sports college football series, first released in 1993, quickly became a staple for fans and dominated the market for decades. Now, after years of anticipation, the gaming giant is shifting its focus to college basketball, sparking excitement among a new generation of fans.
EA Sports is preparing to launch a new college basketball video game after a 16-year absence from the hardwood. The announcement marks the first time in more than a decade that fans will see a major college basketball game, and it comes as rival 2K Sports also hints at its own project.
As excitement builds, theories, feature ideas, and fan suggestions are flooding social media. One basketball expert recently shared a unique idea focused on officiating, an aspect of gameplay that often goes overlooked.
Expert Reveals One Feature EA Sports Must Add to Improve College Basketball Game
In a recent announcement, EA Sports confirmed it is bringing back its college basketball video game. Meanwhile, 2K Sports teased that it is also working on a college basketball project. Fans are excited about both developments, though many wonder whether EA can match the quality of games produced by 2K Sports.
2K Sports’ approach to revealing its project, which included teasing a fan comment, was a hit among college basketball fans. EA Sports, for its part, has already confirmed a return date for its game. The race to release the first new college basketball game in years is on, and whichever company delivers first will score a big win with fans.
Recently, a basketball expert shared a personal idea that could make the game truly stand out. Reporter John Fanta wrote, “If the college basketball video game really wants to get to the next level you should be allowed to customize the officiating crews when you’re the home team.”
If the college basketball video game really wants to get to the next level you should be allowed to customize the officiating crews when you’re the home team.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) June 30, 2025
Fanta’s tweet, a playful nod to real-life officiating controversies, struck a chord with fans and quickly went viral. It also inspired a wave of suggestions and jokes from the community.
One user declared, “John -if you are not lead color for the game I will NOT be buying EA SPORTS.” Another joked, “@B1GMBBall refs would never get picked.” A third added, “And ban Pat Adams for life.” Another fan wrote, “I want John Fanta as an official. You could never make me hate John Fanta.”
John – if you are not lead color for the game I will NOT be buying @EASPORTS
— Friar Faithful (@PCFriarFaithful) July 1, 2025
Perhaps the most passionate response came from a fan who said, “You need to be in it. ‘If it’s in the game, it’s in the game.’ Any college basketball game with no Fanta is fraudulent.”
You need to be in it.
“If it’s in the game, it’s in the game”
Any college basketball game with no Fanta is fraudulent
— JTM (@JTMoney41051) June 30, 2025
Based on current reports, the game is expected to launch around 2028. That leaves plenty of time for the developers to implement new features and improvements. While some players may not be excited about the idea of customizing referees, many understand the context of Fanta’s playful suggestion and see it as a fun way to engage with the game.
