EA Sports is teasing that they’re ready to re-enter the basketball space—a space long dominated by 2K Sports with its yearly NBA 2K (insert year here) releases. But it seems that, with the success of their College Football franchise—revived only two years ago—now might be the perfect time to bring the world a College Basketball game.
Bring the Madness. Let’s run it back. #CBB #ItsInTheGame pic.twitter.com/iBNhGxn2yj
— EA SPORTS (@EASPORTS) June 30, 2025
Now, I know I’m getting my hopes up over just a silly little post—nothing more than a few hashtags and a picture of a basketball.
But as someone who has played NBA 2K since 2011 (meaning I was around when EA had a competing basketball game with NBA Live), this hits differently. NBA Live was eventually squeezed out by 2K, largely because 2K had something EA didn’t: a compelling MyCareer mode. With the addition of this mode, 2K began its stranglehold on basketball video games.
Fun Fact: The cover athlete for EA NCAA Basketball 08 was Kevin Durant.
What can we learn from history?
My hope is that, since EA used to make basketball games and has had several years of 2K to study, they’ll take what made the older 2K games great and implement those features—but also bring in the experience they’ve developed in making College Football games. That includes the atmosphere, the grit, and most importantly, March Madness.
That said, EA will need to secure NCAA rights—something they had back in 2010 with EA NCAA Basketball 10. From my research, it seems EA stopped making NCAA basketball games due to poor sales and, more importantly, the legal issues around college players profiting from their names—something that has been resolved in recent years.
Career Hopes!
While I do enjoy MyTeam (or Ultimate Team, in EA’s case), I absolutely adore career modes—being able to create myself and experience a journey I’ll never have in real life. I know I’m getting ahead of myself here, but imagine if we get, with basketball, what EA has already announced for College Football: starting as a freshman and playing all the way through to the NBA Draft—and beyond.
Now, I can already hear you yelling, “But there isn’t even an EA NBA Basketball game!”
Let me dream—for just a little while.
How cool would it be if College Basketball makes a comeback, becomes a smash hit, and then EA follows it up with a new NBA game? That way, we could start a full career journey. I know this might be years away—like, 2030 years away—but you never know. Stranger things have happened. Maybe 2K sees the success of EA’s College game and takes a swing at their own.
Final Thoughts
I’ve put forward a lot of thoughts, but this all remains a pipe dream if EA never actually releases a College Basketball game. Yes, they’ve teased something—but in today’s gaming industry, that doesn’t mean much. Even if we get a release date, the game could still be canceled. That’s the unfortunate reality we live in, with constant layoffs and studio closures. And let’s be honest: EA doesn’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to giving fans what they want. Just look at games like Titanfall 3.
We’ll just have to wait—and hope. That seems to be the theme for many gaming teasers these days.
What are your thoughts? I’d love to know!
