The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning in 2021

[steeleye5]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

I'll put that on myself for badly explaining it.

Not that people don't buy sports games but that the popularity of the genre has gone down to the point where there's not enough economic sense to produce more than one licensed game per sport. Sure you'll get an indie sports title that jumps into the market every so often but they usually get their 15 minutes of fame before falling into the crowd.

So I guess what I was trying to say when you compare sports to other genres people aren't buying them, but looking at the genre itself people still are buying and will continue buying, at least for the foreseeable future.

[canes21]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

I feel like I can see what you're getting at, but I'm still not sure if I follow 100%. When you say compare sports games to other genres and that people aren't buying them, I am curious as to why you say that. Madden and NBA 2k are always two of the top selling games annually. You can practically find both of those games in the top 3 of any year you choose. People still definitely buy sports games as much or more than other genres out there.

I think there is definitely room for the big leagues like the NFL and NBA to have multiple licensed games. These two leagues sell like crazy and even if you cut Madden or NBA 2k's numbers directly in half, they turn a profit despite paying a premium to be the only games in town.

Unless the NFL charged an insane amount for a non-exclusive license, like $250 million for it compared to the $300 million per year EA pays now, then there is room for both EA and 2k to make NFL games and turn profits. The NFL may not be as popular as it used to be, but the brand is still huge and sells like crazy. Add in all of the extra money that the Ultimate Team/MyTeam modes make per year and I would say there is 100% enough room for multiple NFL games to be made if the license were to ever open back up.

[illwill10]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

Me personally, I would be more willing to spend full price on a quality sports title than a non-sports title. Just because if it is a good sports game, it has longer replay value for me. I'm a strict solo offline guy. So when I play most non-sports titles, it's mainly for the campaign and experience.

I wouldn't say sports games declined in popularity, I would say circumstances are different than lets say in 6th gen. Cost of development and license costs have risen astronomically over last 10-20 years. Most non-major AAA studios didn't sell "well" then, but were still able to profit off it. Now it's different. You seen 2k drop sports because it was no longer profitable. The problem is that the casuals values having real players and then power of a licensed game is key for most. Indies just have a bad stigma with most casual. Even if it is a good game, most of those indie titles look like it is generation behind graphically and don't have the resources necessary. Hopefully when those indie studios move over to next gen hardware, hopefully games get better.

I would love another Blitz from Midway or any football from a 3rd party studio, but it isn't likely anymore in this day and age.

[jay87]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

i hope that ea loses the license soon and 2k can make decent football games

[steeleye5]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

I think the other games wouldn't have died if there was enough of a margin to produce 2 or more games per sport. Even if the cost of entry is high, someone would have tried to nose their way in, or at least have had it offset by something else, such as Super Mega and their expansive creation tools. Especially with basketball being the number 2 sport in popularity, NBA Live should have theoretically succeeded, but it's been a bumpy road with that franchise since 2010/2011.

A new NFL game may work for a while if the license opens up, but I don't what happens afterward.

[canes21]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

I think the other games wouldn't have died if there was enough of a margin to produce 2 or more games per sport. Even if the cost of entry is high, someone would have tried to nose their way in, or at least have had it offset by something else, such as Super Mega and their expansive creation tools. Especially with basketball being the number 2 sport in popularity, NBA Live should have theoretically succeeded, but it's been a bumpy road with that franchise since 2010/2011.

A new NFL game may work for a while if the license opens up, but I don't what happens afterward.

We already know why 2k left the football market.

Live failed because of how much the quality dropped in that game while 2k really started to take off and become what it is today. They tried to rebrand the game to NBA Elite, it flopped so hard they completely canceled the game after it was already being shipped out to stores. They've tried a few times over trying to bring the series back to life, but the quality of game they have pumped out each time is so bad it continues to fail.

If Live was actually a quality product, it would sell and stick around. EA obviously believes there is room for two NBA games as they've made attempt after attempt to keep the brand alive, but the game is just so bad it stands no chance when the competitor is as deep as it is and has such a popular mode in MyPlayer. Despite the microtransactions in 2k, it's still a beloved game that typically sells as well or better than Madden each year.

If EA thinks there is still room for 2 games in the NBA market, I believe so as well. I also believe the NFL has room as well considering how popular it is, but the NFL loves making everything exclusive if they can.

[mestevo]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

No reason to expect a different commissioner to take a different path, commissioner is just a proxy for owners. If you're blaming him for anything and not an owner then he's doing his job well.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[steeleye5]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

We already know why 2k left the football market.

Live failed because of how much the quality dropped in that game while 2k really started to take off and become what it is today. They tried to rebrand the game to NBA Elite, it flopped so hard they completely canceled the game after it was already being shipped out to stores. They've tried a few times over trying to bring the series back to life, but the quality of game they have pumped out each time is so bad it continues to fail.

If Live was actually a quality product, it would sell and stick around. EA obviously believes there is room for two NBA games as they've made attempt after attempt to keep the brand alive, but the game is just so bad it stands no chance when the competitor is as deep as it is and has such a popular mode in MyPlayer. Despite the microtransactions in 2k, it's still a beloved game that typically sells as well or better than Madden each year.

If EA thinks there is still room for 2 games in the NBA market, I believe so as well. I also believe the NFL has room as well considering how popular it is, but the NFL loves making everything exclusive if they can.

Yeah, it's no secret why 2K left the football market. It's part of the reason why I dislike the NFL as an organization (among other reasons, but that is a completely different conversation). I think I can also believe that football will have wiggle room in regards to coexisting 2 games in the same market. I just don't think it'll have staying power for more than a few years.

Yeah, Live was terrible, I thought it set up a good foundation for the future though. 2K has the bar set so high at this point that setting up a good foundation isn't going to be enough if you want to compete and make money. Maybe the better statement was to say single games are too popular but more than one wouldn't be popular enough to provide staying power because the losing developer would just end up dropping their game from the lineup after a couple of years.

All of this being said, I would love for someone to jump into the market and prove me wrong. I think there's a lot more wiggle room for success in the sports genre then there is in any other genre. I would love to see the day come where I can choose between 2 or 3 games per sport, but I think those days are gone.

[canes21]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

If the "losing" developer is still moving 3-4 million units per year, they'd probably be turning a decent profit and I feel like they'd stay around. I think the 2k brand is strong enough that if Madden stayed on top, 2k would still rack up a few million sales. If Madden is selling 10+ million per year right now, I think between the 2k guys that would instantly jump back in, the people that would buy both games because they love football, and the guys tired of Madden and want something new, that 2k would realistically have a chance at getting a few million units sold per year. Madden will still probably sell up to or just under 10 million units, but I feel like there is room for another AAA NFL game to come in and survive even if it stays second to Madden in terms of sales.


This is all assuming the NFL is rational with their licensing fees. If 2k has to pay 225 million to get an open license and sell 3 million copies, they still potentially make a profit, but that's not a rational number.

[PVarck31]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

i hope that ea loses the license soon and 2k can make decent football games

Dude, they just signed a new 5 yea exclusive license. It's not happening. It most likely never happen. If games are still a thing in 50 years, EA will still have the exclusive rights.

[canes21]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

Dude, they just signed a new 5 yea exclusive license. It's not happening. It most likely never happen. If games are still a thing in 50 years, EA will still have the exclusive rights.

More likely than not the sad truth. Competition is sports game is so few and far between now and the only people paying for it are the consumers. EA gets to line their pockets with Madden, the NFL as well. The NBA and 2k make all of the money they can dream of with 2k basketball. The fans are stuck either liking one game or not having a game to play for their favorite sport.

[illwill10]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

I think the chances of license opening up is slim to none. This past instance seemed like the closest it has been since the initial exclusive license. I just feel like the license is Madden's to lose. As long as they play by the rules and continue to bring in a lot of revenue, they are good. Who knows how truthful NFL was when it said they they were consider opening up license. NFL loves exclusive branding. Only likely chance license opens up is if Madden doesn't hit the revenue benchmark to get that extra year. With how much money they're making off microtransactions, we know they are going to hit that number.

I just feel like there is a good market for an AAA non-NFL football game. I do understand the power of the shield and casuals wanting to play with real players. But I think a quality football game would do well. Outside of lack of depth, I think one of APF issues was 2k/VC didn't have the brand recognition it has now. I think the same type of game would do alot better now based off of 2k brand and an alternative to Madden. Then another issue was the legend approach. It felt like they thought if they couldn't have NFL, they would have the next best thing which are NFL legends. Problem with Legends are only a couple percent of legends are marketable and legend approach limits how you can design game now and future. That limits you to just keep adding more legends each year. Even a game like Blitz the League, the issue with that game was the mature approach it took. Blood, showing X Rays of broken bones, drug/steriod use, hookers cuts off a significant chunk off the consumer market. I liked the game. But you still have to market to younger generation. I think a "Teen" Blitz approach would do a lot better than a Mature Blitz approach.


So, I'm looking forward to what 2k shows off. I don't think NFL license is a requirement for a good football game. A good AAA non-NFL game or a Super Mega Football would do well just off people wanting an alternative to Madden

[Pray_iv_m3rcy]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

I'd take a 7v7 online experience with realistic gameplay.

[ceocheckmate]

Re: NFL 2K Coming Back in 2021!!

I see(Hope) 2 things happening.

1. Madden will step up there game to at least attempt to fix some of the Bugs that have been around for years.

2. 2k will have a ton of Customization options which should make for some great options for Roster Makers.

didnt they try this with them hall of famers and legends before. I just want nfl 2k back damm you Ea sports. I have dreamcast, xbox, ps, neo geo systems at my studio. I come from that era of gaming, best times. anyone have rosters for dreamcast for nfl and nba from 2000+??

[cleverley1986]

Re: The NFL and 2K Are Back Together, 'Non-Simulation' Games Will Release Beginning i

If 2K pretty much do a myplayer/my park/street game i think it will definitely compete.

loads of accessories/customisation options
different environments
cool story mode attached

count me in