EA Sports College Football 25 is one of the most anticipated sports video game releases of all time, but many have noticed — and wondered — about the game’s name change. After an 11-year hiatus, the game will return this summer, but under a different name.
Why is the new game called EA Sports College Football 25, and why did the creators not continue tradition and name it NCAA 25?
Is the New EA Sports Game Named NCAA 25 or College Football 25?
Unlike its earlier predecessors, the relaunch of EA Sports’ game is called College Football 25. The name change is, on the surface, a complicated topic, but in reality, it isn’t that difficult to process.
Back in 2013, Electronic Arts (EA) settled with college football’s governing body (the NCAA) in a lawsuit started by athletes who argued their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) was used without proper consent or compensation.
In the 11 years since, the college athletics landscape has changed drastically, highlighted by new NIL governance that took effect on July 1, 2021.
After losing a case in front of the Supreme Court, the NCAA begrudgingly and slowly began to allow college athletes to be compensated when companies use their Name, Image, and Likeness.
In the time that has passed since the last iteration of the game, Electronic Arts failed to renew its licensing rights for the term “NCAA,” meaning it has to use a more generic term for the game. Hence, the new title is “EA Sports College Football 25.”
As for compensation, the game announced in February that players must choose to opt in for their Name, Image, and Likeness to be used in the game. Players who do so will receive $600 and a free copy of the game.
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So far, over 10,000 student-athletes have opted in, while only a few have announced they are sitting out — most notably, Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning. Gamers will not be allowed to create players that bear the Name, Image, or Likeness of current college athletes.
The game is scheduled for a summer release, and College Football Network will continue to report as more information becomes available.
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