• No College Football Game From EA SPORTS in 2014, Future to be Assessed

    This afternoon, Cam Weber (GM of American Football at EA SPORTS) announced that the company will not publish a college football title in 2014 and that the future of the franchise is in doubt. Weber stated that the company being caught in the dispute between the NCAA and student-athletes along with the NCAA & several conferences withdrawing support led to the decision. He also added that EA SPORTS is working to settle lawsuits with the student-athletes.

    Later in the day it was announced that EA SPORTS had settled a series of class-action lawsuits. It is believed that the settlement will affect between 200,000 and 300,000 current and former college players. Terms of the settlement are confidential pending a court filing. From CBS Sports: The settlement affects lawsuits brought by former Rutgers quarterback Ryan Hart, former Nebraska and Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller and former UCLA basketball star O'Bannon. The settlement does not include the NCAA's ongoing battle with O'Bannon and other plaintiffs in the fight over the rights to player likenesses.

    Continue on to read the full press release from Weber & EA SPORTS.

    Today I am sad to announce that we will not be publishing a new college football game next year, and we are evaluating our plan for the future of the franchise. This is as profoundly disappointing to the people who make this game as I expect it will be for the millions who enjoy playing it each year. I’d like to explain a couple of the factors that brought us to this decision.

    We have been stuck in the middle of a dispute between the NCAA and student-athletes who seek compensation for playing college football. Just like companies that broadcast college games and those that provide equipment and apparel, we follow rules that are set by the NCAA – but those rules are being challenged by some student-athletes. For our part, we are working to settle the lawsuits with the student-athletes. Meanwhile, the NCAA and a number of conferences have withdrawn their support of our game. The ongoing legal issues combined with increased questions surrounding schools and conferences have left us in a difficult position – one that challenges our ability to deliver an authentic sports experience, which is the very foundation of EA SPORTS games.

    At EA SPORTS, college football has always been a labor of love, and it is unfortunate that these business and legal issues have impacted our ability to make next year’s game. This franchise has been developed by a team that is deeply committed to the tradition and culture of this sport – that’s why fans have always loved it. We are working to retain the talented people who are part of the team by placing them elsewhere within the EA SPORTS organization.

    In the meantime, we will continue to be connected and engaged with our fans who are playing EA SPORTS NCAA Football. Our decision does not affect our commitment to NCAA Football 14 and the consumers who love playing the game.
    Comments 223 Comments
    1. Rudy's Avatar
      Rudy -
      RIP. sucks for you guys.
    1. ram29jackson's Avatar
      ram29jackson -
      ok, this is a Madden site now
    1. ram29jackson's Avatar
      ram29jackson -
      In the meantime, we will continue to be connected and engaged with our fans who are playing EA SPORTS NCAA Football. Our decision does not affect our commitment to NCAA Football 14 and the consumers who love playing the game.

      bla BLA BLA, patch the defense then
    1. dhook27's Avatar
      dhook27 -
      Ncaa 13 and 14 for the next couple years.
    1. JBHuskers's Avatar
      JBHuskers -
      No NCAA and almost certain no Tiger for next year. That'll be a bummer.
    1. ram29jackson's Avatar
      ram29jackson -
      why should that stop them from still doing a fictional football game ? everything is there just get a art department to get creative with the teams and get teambuilder involved
    1. ram29jackson's Avatar
      ram29jackson -
      Quote Originally Posted by JBHuskers View Post
      No NCAA and almost certain no Tiger for next year. That'll be a bummer.
      baseball games are fun but take too long sometimes LOL
    1. ram29jackson's Avatar
      ram29jackson -
      someone put Gschwendt on suicide watch ASAP
    1. HANDSWARD's Avatar
      HANDSWARD -
      Sad day at Tiburon.

      NCAA has become the one and only game I play year-round. Hopefully someone can make some rosters next year and we can start some fresh dynasties as if it was a new game.
    1. I OU a Beatn's Avatar
      I OU a Beatn -
      Quote Originally Posted by ram29jackson View Post
      why should that stop them from still doing a fictional football game ? everything is there just get a art department to get creative with the teams and get teambuilder involved
      Wont sell. Sports games without an official license and real teams absolutely never do well.

      Anyway, as I said in the other thread, really disappointing news. I've complained a lot about the game, but that's because it's my favorite series and I wanted to see it improved. I certainly never wanted to see it completely disappear, so it's quite heart breaking to see it completely abolished. I have thousands of hours and countless memories invested in the series. RIP.
    1. Capt Orygun's Avatar
      Capt Orygun -
      1) RIP :-(

      2) It would take a lot of work, but couldn't we in theory just make a massive roster update for next year as a community?
    1. JBHuskers's Avatar
      JBHuskers -
      Quote Originally Posted by I OU a Beatn View Post
      Wont sell. Sports games without an official license and real teams absolutely never do well.

      Anyway, as I said in the other thread, really disappointing news. I've complained a lot about the game, but that's because it's my favorite series and I wanted to see it improved. I certainly never wanted to see it completely disappear, so it's quite heart breaking to see it completely abolished. I have thousands of hours and countless memories invested in the series. RIP.
      "we are evaluating our plan for the future of the franchise"

      Not completely gone, just gone for now. Probably waiting for all this smoke to clear so all the conferences and even the NCAA get back on board.
    1. Capt Orygun's Avatar
      Capt Orygun -
      Also
    1. steelerfan's Avatar
      steelerfan -
      Hopefully when the lawsuits are settled the franchise gets going again.

      Until then, invest your time in FIFA. You will not be disappointed.

      I'm using Tapatalk 2 and the Cleveland Browns STILL suck.
    1. I OU a Beatn's Avatar
      I OU a Beatn -
      Quote Originally Posted by JBHuskers View Post
      "we are evaluating our plan for the future of the franchise"

      Not completely gone, just gone for now. Probably waiting for all this smoke to clear so all the conferences and even the NCAA get back on board.
      Yeah, just a few weeks after "we're doing a college football next year, it'll just be under a different name." Now we're on the "no game this year" train even though they explicitly said there would be one. As long as this whole dispute about student athletes getting paid is going on, there isn't going to be a college football game. That quote is just to blow smoke at the very real possibility of there not being a college football game anymore period.
    1. JBHuskers's Avatar
      JBHuskers -
      Quote Originally Posted by steelerfan View Post
      Hopefully when the lawsuits are settled the franchise gets going again.

      Until then, invest your time in FIFA. You will not be disappointed.

      I'm using Tapatalk 2 and the Cleveland Browns STILL suck.
      Waiting til PS4 for it. Did you get 14 for PS3?
    1. gschwendt's Avatar
      gschwendt -
      Here is probably the reason for today's announcement...

    1. steelerfan's Avatar
      steelerfan -
      Quote Originally Posted by JBHuskers View Post
      Waiting til PS4 for it. Did you get 14 for PS3?
      No, but I am having withdrawals and may break soon. I am trying to wait for PS4 as well.

      I'm using Tapatalk 2 and the Cleveland Browns STILL suck.
    1. JBHuskers's Avatar
      JBHuskers -
      Quote Originally Posted by steelerfan View Post
      No, but I am having withdrawals and may break soon. I am trying to wait for PS4 as well.

      I'm using Tapatalk 2 and the Cleveland Browns STILL suck.
      I won't have problems waiting at this point. NHL, NCAA, and Madden will keep me plenty busy.
    1. CLW's Avatar
      CLW -
      Well I have been calling this for some time now never regretted being right this much in my life.

      This series is DEAD now NYT even reporting EA trying to settle and stop the legal fight.

      As such the ONLY hope for any type of college sports game in the future is if the NCAA and/or the colleges allow the players to be paid and then EA could pay the students for their "likeness" to be used.

      [CENSORED] Ed O'Bannon and Sam Keller.