EA Sports College Basketball Revival Canceled as 2K Takes the Court

For years, fans of college basketball video games have been hoping for a revival, especially after EA Sports successfully brought back its College Football franchise. In June, EA even teased the long-awaited return of its College Basketball series, fueling excitement across gaming forums and sports communities. But that comeback is no longer happening. According to reports from Extra Points, later corroborated by Insider-Gaming, EA has pulled the plug on the project after schools opted to sign with 2K Sports instead.

The cancellation marks a significant blow to EA’s ambitions in the collegiate sports gaming space.

EA’s last NCAA Basketball release dates back nearly two decades, and the idea of reviving the brand seemed like a natural extension of its recent success with football. But as the video game market grows increasingly competitive, publishers are quick to recognize profitable opportunities. Take-Two Interactive and its subsidiary 2K Sports – best known for the NBA 2K series – saw the same potential EA did, and they moved fast to secure exclusive agreements with universities eager to see their programs represented in basketball titles again.

A memo obtained by Extra Points and attributed to Sean O’Brien, EA Sports’ vice president of commercial partnerships and licensing, confirmed the disappointing turn of events. In it, O’Brien revealed that EA had to withdraw its offer once schools began accepting 2K’s proposal for integration into NBA 2K. His words struck a tone of resignation: “Given there are some schools choosing to accept the 2K Sports proposal for inclusion in NBA 2K, the offer to be included in a college basketball video game will unfortunately have to be rescinded.”

O’Brien added that the team at EA Sports was deeply disappointed not to find a workable solution that would bring fans a standalone college basketball experience. He highlighted that their vision included both men’s and women’s Division I programs, full NCAA licensing, and student-athlete representation – an ambitious plan that could have given basketball the same attention currently enjoyed by EA’s football titles. His closing remarks, wishing institutions a good start to the football season, underscored where EA’s focus now firmly lies.

For college sports gaming enthusiasts, this decision is bittersweet. On the one hand, EA’s football series is thriving, offering a nostalgic yet modernized experience for fans. On the other, basketball gamers will need to settle for NBA 2K’s approach to collegiate basketball rather than a fully standalone simulation. While 2K has an established reputation in delivering polished basketball gameplay, the lack of a dedicated NCAA Basketball game means fans will not get the deeper career and season modes once envisioned by EA.

The outcome also reveals the high-stakes competition behind sports licensing. Schools and universities, eager for exposure and revenue, must choose between publishers, and their decisions can reshape entire gaming genres. EA, despite its vast influence, learned that it can’t always dominate every sports niche. Meanwhile, 2K has scored a major win, further strengthening its control of basketball in gaming. Whether this shift will satisfy fans or leave them longing for a more authentic college basketball experience remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the rivalry between EA and 2K is far from over.