2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

[MiracleMet718]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

So when ea renews the license
2k gonna throw away the NFLPA license from consoles and keep it mobile [emoji848]
Are they scared to make a sandbox game?
Remember all pro was only a few years after the first exclusivity
So of course fans weren't ready
20+ yrs had passed
We are definitely ready for a different football game and 2k would reap the benefits
With VC and DLC
Both weren't available in 2008[emoji1745]

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The issue is it won’t sell. The reality is that without the NFL team licensing, most people are not going to play the game. EA did the same thing with FIFA where they got a ton of exclusive licenses while Konami could only get a handful and despite being the more realistic offering, PES died out and is now a crappy free to play ultimate team like game and EAFC controls the whole soccer market.

2k can have the NFLPA license and make a game. But if the NFL teams and logos aren’t involved, it will be a dud, no matter how good the gameplay is.

[Kanobi]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

So when ea renews the license

That announcement seems to be slower than usual. Normally, the re-up announcement is made 2-3 years prior to the final year of the current contract, if I'm not mistaken. Not that this means anything, mind you. An extension could still be eminent. I just find it a bit odd given the established precedent.

[illwill10]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

That announcement seems to be slower than usual. Normally, the re-up announcement is made 2-3 years prior to the final year of the current contract, if I'm not mistaken. Not that this means anything, mind you. An extension could still be eminent. I just find it a bit odd given the established precedent.

I also find it strange. We're pretty much waiting for the NFL to extend it into 2026. The additional year was dependent on Madden hitting certain revenue benchmarks. Unless it was unattainable numbers, no reason to think Madden didn't hit those benchmarks.

At this point now, if they are deciding to extend into 2026, I would imagine they are also negotiating for the next deal. I don't see them extending it now, then waiting until next year to start negotiating. I could only see the NFL waiting if they were truly on the fence. I could see us getting news around the NFL owners meeting in March. I felt we got news about the Licenses last time around that time

[simbayless]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

I also find it strange. We're pretty much waiting for the NFL to extend it into 2026. The additional year was dependent on Madden hitting certain revenue benchmarks. Unless it was unattainable numbers, no reason to think Madden didn't hit those benchmarks.

At this point now, if they are deciding to extend into 2026, I would imagine they are also negotiating for the next deal. I don't see them extending it now, then waiting until next year to start negotiating. I could only see the NFL waiting if they were truly on the fence. I could see us getting news around the NFL owners meeting in March. I felt we got news about the Licenses last time around that time

Yep 2k announced their NFLPA license in March

[Valdarez]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

I kept hoping the license deal with EA would end at some point but it never will, to much $$$$$ to be made. My big beef is why didn't 2K continue on with the All Pro football series? That was a good game , and if they improved it every year or two we would have an amazing game by now.

Because they lost a ton of money on the game, unfortunately. They would’ve been in a much better place had they not licensed all of the player likeness individually like they did.

MUT saved Madden. MUT is a money making machine. We really don’t even get a Madden game anymore, we get a MUT game that happens to have the Madden name with an optional story and franchise mode.

NFL does care about their brand, but only from a dollars perspective. NFL could care less whether it’s a good or bad game.

[simbayless]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

I bet 2k felt a lot of pressure from college football
Last year and became the number one selling sports game of all time
In just one year back!

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[tril]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

I also find it strange. We're pretty much waiting for the NFL to extend it into 2026. The additional year was dependent on Madden hitting certain revenue benchmarks. Unless it was unattainable numbers, no reason to think Madden didn't hit those benchmarks.

At this point now, if they are deciding to extend into 2026, I would imagine they are also negotiating for the next deal. I don't see them extending it now, then waiting until next year to start negotiating. I could only see the NFL waiting if they were truly on the fence. I could see us getting news around the NFL owners meeting in March. I felt we got news about the Licenses last time around that time

there are enough people who work for the NFL that probably played NFL2k.
Im hoping that the NFL is waiting to see what 2k has to offer before they renew the EA contract.

based on the positive reaction and sales from the college title, NFL execs may think that they can make more money from 2 titles than 1.

[illwill10]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

there are enough people who work for the NFL that probably played NFL2k.
Im hoping that the NFL is waiting to see what 2k has to offer before they renew the EA contract.

based on the positive reaction and sales from the college title, NFL execs may think that they can make more money from 2 titles than 1.

I can understand the optimism. But at this point, the ball isn’t in 2K’s court anymore. With EA’s deal set to expire this year(with option to extend into next year), there really isn’t any time for 2K to show what they can offer. 2K would’ve had to have something releasing this year or next year for that hope to live on. I’m assuming that we hear something in the NFL owner’s meeting next month or within month after Madden 26 release about an extension into next year. Then likely same time next year, negotiations should beginning about another long term extension.

Only hope now is the NFL wants to open it up. Nothing 2K can do at this point. We’re 5 years from initial announcement and we haven’t heard a peep at all. Not even a credible rumor. NFL’s main priority is revenue and its brand. Madden has done nothing to warrant a change, even in its make or break years

[simbayless]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

I can understand the optimism. But at this point, the ball isn’t in 2K’s court anymore. With EA’s deal set to expire this year(with option to extend into next year), there really isn’t any time for 2K to show what they can offer. 2K would’ve had to have something releasing this year or next year for that hope to live on. I’m assuming that we hear something in the NFL owner’s meeting next month or within month after Madden 26 release about an extension into next year. Then likely same time next year, negotiations should beginning about another long term extension.

Only hope now is the NFL wants to open it up. Nothing 2K can do at this point. We’re 5 years from initial announcement and we haven’t heard a peep at all. Not even a credible rumor. NFL’s main priority is revenue and its brand. Madden has done nothing to warrant a change, even in its make or break years

So what your saying 2k was just selling Wolf tickets by using the arcade license as a front hoping the NFL will Open the door for the sim rights🤔

[Kjcheesehead]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

EA stock dropped 19% in January and it still hasn’t recovered. I know that’s mostly from Dragon Age and their soccer game but that’s the only way the exclusive license ends. If EA doesn’t want to spend the money the NFL expects to get. NCAA did much better than expected but it was the first release in a decade. College football 26 won’t repeat those numbers. Not to mention all signs are pointing to this being a bad year for retail and entertainment spending so EA might be hesitating to break the bank on another exclusive.

Fingers crossed anyway because there isn’t really anything 2k can do. If EA ponies up for that license again the NFL will give it to them

[simbayless]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

EA stock dropped 19% in January and it still hasn’t recovered. I know that’s mostly from Dragon Age and their soccer game but that’s the only way the exclusive license ends. If EA doesn’t want to spend the money the NFL expects to get. NCAA did much better than expected but it was the first release in a decade. College football 26 won’t repeat those numbers. Not to mention all signs are pointing to this being a bad year for retail and entertainment spending so EA might be hesitating to break the bank on another exclusive.



Fingers crossed anyway because there isn’t really anything 2k can do. If EA ponies up for that license again the NFL will give it to them

My guess would be EA didn't want to pay up for the fifa license
In order to use that money towards the NFL license
The NFL should just charge EA/2k
A billy fee and call it a day
Because those are the biggest two sports gaming companies in the world

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[illwill10]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

I could see a scenario where EA themselves wouldn't want an exclusive license anymore. They didn't want to pay the FIFA license, the ESPN license. I don't think I would put the NCAA license in the same boat because they didn't want the NIL. I don't think an Exclusive license is as necessary and worth the cost as it was for EA. The cost of development and licensing fees is enough to keep the average AAA out of the market. Only way EA would want to maintain exclusive license is if they don't want competition. I definitely think 2k would jump back in if it was non-exclusive. But, they would be playing catch up for a while after they build a game from scratch.



I could see the NFL wanting to maintain the exclusive license more than EA. With an exclusive license, NFL is more likely to name their own price and have more creative control. EA has shown they are trying to cut down costs.

[simbayless]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

I wish EA said this to the NFL [emoji23]

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[illwill10]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

I wish EA said this to the NFL [emoji23]

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Well, EA signed a 5 year $1.5B deal(likely getting an extra year). That's $300M a year. I'm certain that number would go up in the next negotiation. 2k's NBA license signed a year prior to EA's deal was a 7 year $1.1B deal, should be up in 2026. That's about $157M a year. Does EA really want to pay upwards of $400M a year for an exclusive license.

[simbayless]

Re: 2k never getting the NFL sim license!!

Well, EA signed a 5 year $1.5B deal(likely getting an extra year). That's $300M a year. I'm certain that number would go up in the next negotiation. 2k's NBA license signed a year prior to EA's deal was a 7 year $1.1B deal, should be up in 2026. That's about $157M a year. Does EA really want to pay upwards of $400M a year for an exclusive license.

Of course they will if they want to keep 2k the big bad school bully away from them lol